Imagine buildings that come alive – capable of growing, breathing, digesting and even healing themselves. In fact, don’t imagine – just take a look at the range of biotechnology that’s set to turn this idea into reality, in the not-so-distant future.

Nature is capable of extraordinary feats of engineering, and scientists and architects are coming up with clever ways to use it in human constructions. Materials like mycelium – the root network of fungus – can grow on wood chips and coffee grounds in very short periods of time, creating structurally stable building materials with the potential to grow and adapt. Bacterial spores can also be used to create self-repairing concrete, or walls that open and “sweat” like pores.

As well as being extremely cool, living buildings could do us, and our environment, the world of good: from probiotic kitchen surfaces that help boost immune systems, to buildings that “digest” waste and turn it into green energy for homes and offices. But we’ll also need to prepare ourselves for the fact that, like all living things, these incredible buildings will eventually die.

Of course, humanity still has a long way to go, before we can claim to coexist happily with nature. Species in even the most inaccessible parts of the Earth are affected by human activity. This includes the rather remarkable looking Sea Pangolin, which has become the first marine species to become officially endangered due to the threat of deep sea mining. At the very least, we can all make life that little bit better for our furry friends at home, starting with this definitive guide on how to stroke a cat, according to research.

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