About this episode

This episode explores the intersection of biology and materials science in creating sustainable living buildings with guest Anna Sandak.

Can we build structures that are actually alive? This week on Under the Microscope , host Pranoti Kshirsagar is joined by Anna Sandak, Associate Professor and Head of the materials group at the University of Primorska, Slovenia. Anna's work bridges the gap between biology and materials science to make the building sector more sustainable, dynamic, and resilient. In this episode, we dive into her major research projects, including ARCHI-SKIN (developing self-healing coatings made of good fungi) and REMEDY (high-resolution "living tattoos" printed onto building facades). Anna also shares the exciting details of her project sending fungal biofilms into space to test their survival under extreme cosmic conditions. Tune in to hear how biology, art, and space exploration are colliding to redefine the buildings we live in.

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