A white-rot fungus called Pychnoporus cinnabarinus can break down lignin efficiently without using two common enzymes, lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase. Instead, it produces a lot of laccase, another enzyme that was thought to be less effective at breaking down lignin. The fungus uses a mediator to help laccase oxidize non-phenolic lignin structures, allowing it to degrade lignin effectively. This discovery shows a new way that laccase can be used to break down lignin in nature.