Spalted wood is beautiful. It’s a form of rotting, and it’s caused by fungi. Spalting comes in many forms, with variety in patterns, colors and textures. Until this century, the biology of spalting wasn’t well understood, and even less so any methods to produce it in a laboratory setting.  Javier Riberia is back on the show to share some of the cutting edge research at EMPA to develop a method for commercially produced spalted wood. Topics Covered: History of spalted wood use in the United StatesThe 3 kinds of spalting: zone lines, pigmentation and white rotMel & Mark Lindquist’s legacy of spalted wood in woodcraftDIY spalting methods: the possibilities and limitationsThe mycology of zone line spalting: what species are involved? What does wood anatomy have to do with it?How researchers at EMPA are commercializing spalted woods Show Notes: EMPA’s Website: https://www.empa.ch/web/s302 Spalted Wood History with Dr. Sara (Seri) Robinson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fk1aqCWqrI Zone Line Spalting from Sciene to Application: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127521000332 GIY Spalted Wood Methods: https://www.finewoodworking.com/2009/04/14/spalt-your-own-lumber Wood Spalting Starter Pack: https://www.mossycreekmushrooms.com/product/spalting-liquid-culture-pack/ More spalting species (members only): https://www.northernspalting.com/buy-materials/fungi/ Compatible woods + examples:  https://www.northernspalting.com/spalting-info/wood-species-examples/