Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created a strong, low-cost biomaterial from mushrooms that could replace Styrofoam and plastics used in packaging. No word yet on whether this material will be suitable for use with medical devices, which require sterilization. RPI graduates, founded Ecovative Design LLC, which will begin volume manufacturing of its organic insulation and packaging materials.