Researchers from the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University, and collaborators from the University of Miami and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, tested adding extremely hard minerals at the nanoscale to the walls of wood cells to add strength – without making the wood heavy, expensive or bad for the environment. …The research focused on a hardwood known as ring-porous wood, from broad-leaf trees like oak, maple, cherry and walnut. … By mixing ferric nitrate with potassium hydroxide, they created ferrihydrite, an iron oxide mineral commonly found in soil and water. …The findings suggest that, with the right chemical treatment, it’s possible to enhance the strength of wood and other plant-based materials without increasing their weight or harming the environment. These bio-based materials could one day replace traditional construction materials like steel and concrete in applications such as tall buildings, bridges, furniture and flooring.