Although we set a harvest date for our mycelium biomaterials, the cultures don't always follow the schedule. Sometimes they reach the stage sooner than expected, while other times they need more time to grow.
We always try to create the best environment for our cultures. Even so, unexpected things happen. A power outage, contamination, or equipment failure can quickly change the course of an experiment.
Moments like these remind me that biological systems don't always follow our plans, even after years of creating the best growing conditions. Living organisms respond to their environment in ways that aren't always easy to anticipate, and that's part of working with them.
At times, it can be frustrating, but isn't that one of the most heartening aspects of research involving living beings?