. >> we're here at ecovative design. this is a truly revolutionary biomaterials company.re taking farm waste and mixing it with mushrooms and throwing away plastic foam used in packaging. >> why is this so important? what's the problem with styrofoam? >> there's about $10 billion to $20 billion of styrene products used, it's not that it's bad but it's fundamentally incompatible with the earth's biosphere. >> almost every big product we buy comes packaged in this material. but here's the problem with it. these are made from unsustainable petrochemicals. it can take a billion years for this to biodegenerate and leave the earth. >> we use mushrooms as a resin and grow them in a mold for shapes like auto parts. if i were to look into that tree structure or along the forest floor what you'll find is a vast network of these un unicellular organisms. >> do you grow mushrooms? >> we never grow mushrooms, the original concept of use be mushroom roots, and combination of agricultural waste, didn't come into fruition for several months when i got together with gavin. >> we're about

. >> they are, and both of them and everybody that works at ecovative that fungi can completely change the way that we package materials and that there are millions of other applications, too. >> it was really interesting. i was looking at the home insulation, and i was wondering about that application. the problem is is that it's biodegradable. dust eats it, and i'm not sure i want things eating my home. >> that's true. that's something they're working with and adapt the materials. it's designed by nature, which i think is totally, totally cool. >> amazing stories, you guys. it was cool to hear about forest fires, police work and fungi. they're all really fascinating. check back with us next week on "tech know" for awesome cool science. dive deep into the stories and go behind the scenes at aljazeera.com/ajtechknow.

both of them and everybody who works at ecovative really feels like fungi and mycelium in particular, completely change the way we package and use other materials too. >> i was looking at the home insulation and wondering about that application. the problem is, it's biodegradable. stuff eats it. i'm not sure i want things eating my home. >> that's true and that's something they are still working with, trying to adapt to the materials. you know it's designs inspired by sanitary which i thir is totally -- think is totally totally cool. >> amazing. so interesting to hear about forrest fires , field work and packaging. >> go yind the -- behind the scenes at aljazeera.com/"techknow". from all of us here at "techknow", happy new year. we look forward to bringing you more innovative stories that come our way in 2014. >> another deadly attack in russia. an explosion killed 15 on a trolley bus in volgograd, a day after 17 were killed when a blast hit a train station in the same city. the flu was back and spreading quickly across the country. doctors say it was widespread in 10 states. stranded

stroke,ecovering from a and she was his nurse. >> i do not want to get that paired quick i do not seem. contributed significant assets to the company, and then was able to require -- three acquire those assets. >> it is fascinating about these companies that are in danger or the claim and even that was laid by his ex-wife on his empire. >> family, vision is the grunt , turning that over to the next generation is one of the most difficult job that these have to go through. , i am all fore it. he broke the rule. next, the blackrock ceo weighs in. air quality at record lows, haze.is shrouded in a ♪ >> blackrock, the world's largest money manager is holding a symposium. eric, you have some big shots on the show today, what should we expect? >> as you can imagine, you should expect to hear a lot about investing in for the 14. is going to be a year after the s&p 500 went up 25%, and it makes all that much more difficult to decide where to put your money if you want to continue to be in stocks, fixed income, currencies, commodities, alternative assets. we will be talking about all of that ov

ecover >> every hospital will tell that you and that's what they do.mergency rooms take everyone regard to ability to pay. right thing to do. when they say charity care don't be fooled because many are being by bill d pursued collectors. hospitals won't collect a lot on have no money, so don't make a lot. they are losing money on that. once obamacare is fully deployed, a lot more people will have insurance. amount should go down. economists that that alone doesn't go far to explain the high bills we see. several callers waiting to talk to you. we'll try to run through them. corpus christi, texas for republicans. you're on with elizabeth rosenthal. caller: going morning. how y'all doing this morning. >> good. i want to had. have my own medical issues, but something that i found out, when the hospital is providing with this enormous invoice, round ay $40,000 for numbers. and then your pre negotiated cost through your healthcare place of ets you to a $10,000. the reason one of the main go ons the hospital has to so high they know that they're not getting