It’s not the most obvious technological advancement, but if we can ever truly master it, synthetic biology could literally reshape the world we live in.

A new mini-documentary called Explorations shines the spotlight on technology that could truly change the world, and this installment focuses on the near-limitless capabilities of synthetic biology. If we could master it, scientists believe the technology could be used to grow furniture and buildings from things like mushrooms or moss. Glowing bacteria could also be incorporated into city design, to provide “natural” light wherever it’s needed.

The doc hits the high points of the technology’s promise, including the grandest of ambitions. They speak with Stanford University’s Drew Endy, Harvard’s George Church, artist/designer Daisy Ginsberg (who uses synthetic biology in her art), and representatives from scientific firms experimenting with synthetic biology.

If you’re up for a fascinating peek at what the future might look like, it’s well worth a watch.

Check out the mini-doc on the technology below and let us know what you think:

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(Via Gizmodo)