A new line of investigation conducted by Australian researchers seeks to use fungi to fight fire.

The aim of this new research is to develop biologically based substitutes for the harmful flame retardantsnow used in building materials that thrive on organic waste and are nontoxic even if they burn.

In a set of recent papers, scientists from Australia’s RMIT University described the successes of growing molasses-fed sheets of fungi that could eventually be stacked in layers for applications such as fire-resistant cladding in construction or leather-like textiles for the fashion industry.

"Cladding" is the term used to describe a thin, external covering or skin applied to another material, such as the exterior of a structure, to provide insulation, fire resistance, or other properties.

To help prevent incidents like the 2017 UK Grenfell Tower tragedy, in which combustible cladding contributed to deadly flames, the new "bio-based" compounds would cover other building components.

The materials under study make use of the mycelium, a fungi's threadlike, rootlike structure that can underpin fruit-like mushrooms and has fire-resistant qualities.

“The great thing about mycelium is that it forms a thermal protective char layer when exposed to fire or radiant heat,” Everson Kandare, one researcher, said. “The longer and the higher the temperature at which mycelium char survives, the better its use as a fireproof material.”

Mycelium-based fireproofing has the advantage of avoiding the harmful chemicals and plastics used in conventional fireproofing.

Fire retardants that contain bromide, iodide, phosphorus, and nitrogen are effective but have negative impacts on human health and the environment, according to Kandare. They can affect plant and animal life, since they are neurotoxins and carcinogens.

Kandare pointed out that burning mycelium results in the production of only carbon dioxide and water.
Using bioengineering, mycelium can be made homogeneous and "paper-thin" while keeping its structure and fire resistance.

“Fungi are usually found in a composite form mixed with residual feed material, but we found a way to grow pure mycelium sheets,” Tien Huynh, one researcher, explained.

Although it doesn't seem like the research has a specific focus on how to adapt to the Earth's changing climate, employing nontoxic fireproofing could assist people secure their homes in a warmer environment when fires are more likely to break out close to human structures.

Mycelium still needs to be improved before it can compete with today's fire-resistant materials, according to the researchers.

Huynh remarked that while fungal grows slowly and is significantly more difficult to create at scale, plastics are rapid and simple to produce.

Still, there might be a place for fireproof fungi in the future.
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According to Huynh, the researchers have already begun discussions with mushroom farmers about using their byproducts. Working with the mushroom business would eliminate the need for new farms while creating goods that satisfy fire safety requirements sustainably.

Health systems having been hit by labor and supply chain costs and broader economic woes have another unwieldy financial problem—the soaring costs of cyber insurance.

Moody's Investors Service notes that, while it’s not sexy, the sheer size of cyber-crimes and insurers' reluctance to cover losses brought on by ransomware attacks are having a very serious impact on hospitals.

"The timing of the insurance price increase is bad for health care. There isn't much room for error, " said Matthew Cahill, a Moody's analyst. There have been double-digit increases in premiums over the past four years, often more than tripling in a single year. According to a recent analysis from Property Casualty 360, the industry's insurance costs have finally started to stabilize in the first quarter of 2023.

In an interview, Omid Rahmani, an associate director at the credit rating company Fitch Ratings, stated: "Costs are decelerating. That tells part of the story. But cyber insurance is becoming unaffordable or unavailable for a lot of small- to medium-sized issuers."

Early in the century, when cyber insurance first appeared, it was frequently incorporated into other policies. According to Rob Rosenzweig, senior vice president and head of the National Cyber Risk group at brokerage company Risk Strategies, when losses grew because of the assaults' growing frequency and sophistication, insurers were forced to develop stand-alone policies. In other words, the coverage was not priced appropriately for the level of risk assumed.

Insurance companies have been increasing the standards that health systems need to meet to strengthen their defenses and secure coverage. The new standards include strict data backup policies, the usage of tools like multi-factor authentication, personnel security training, and network segmentation.

"Social engineering attacks, such as phishing, remain one of the most effective ways to breach a hospital system. The workforce remains the weakest link," said Soumitra Bhuyan, a professor at Rutgers University and expert on heath care’s evolving cyber insurance landscape. Social engineering is often treated as a separate policy extension by insurers.

Other limitations have also been added to the coverage, such as the exclusion of cyberattacks supported by nation-states. This is being required because of a new requirement by Lloyds of London. Lloyds now requires all insurance groups that take part in its international insurance and reinsurance marketplace to exclude state-sponsored cyberattacks from their policies.

"With the increased rates and limited coverage, small independent and rural hospitals are at a significant disadvantage in obtaining cybersecurity insurance," Bhuyan said.

"The gap between those with adequate resources to protect their information systems continues to increase," Bhuyan said. "Many of these hospitals are critical access hospitals or hospitals in rural areas. They don't have enough resources to secure their IT systems and may be unable to recover if a breach happens."

Moody’s Cahill said that even though cyber insurance is becoming more expensive, the cost of a successful ransomware attack is still far worse. He pointed to an Illinois system that listed one such attack as a contributing reason for the temporary shutdown of two of its rural hospitals in January as evidence.

In January, the pro-Russian group Killnet took credit to taking down portions of systems of more than a dozen U.S. hospitals, including Stanford Healthcare, Duke University Hospital and Cedars-Sinai.

According to Fitch Ratings, these cyberattacks are unlikely to result in downgrades for not-for-profit health institutions, but the use of more advanced cyber-weapons that damage a hospital's financial profile and compromise service could.
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While some health systems are doing well, for a majority, there is still very little wiggle room to have to operate a month or two on manual records, divert services, and deny claims. And if the attack results in a closure, rural communities simply can’t afford to have no emergency services.