A scientific team from Ohio State University achieved biodegradable chips made from shiitake mushrooms, a milestone that could revolutionize green technology. These components, known for their ability to store and process information, mimic the synapses of the human brain.
Unlike traditional silicon chips, fungal memristors are biodegradable, cost-effective, and scalable. Their development aims at a new generation of eco-friendly computers capable of drastically reducing the environmental impact of the tech industry.
The study, published in the journal PLOS One, demonstrates that it is possible to combine biology with electronics to create living circuits that learn, remember, and regenerate.
The environmental problem of conventional technology
Common memristors, fundamental for artificial intelligence and robotics, rely on scarce minerals and energy-intensive industrial processes. Their production leaves a considerable environmental footprint, marked by mining extraction and the use of toxic substances.
This technological dependency also increases the cost of accessing devices, concentrating development in a few countries and widening the digital divide.
Faced with this scenario, researchers sought a material that would replace rare metals with abundant and renewable organic elements without sacrificing performance. Thus, the idea arose to explore the shiitake mushroom mycelium, a natural network reminiscent of neuronal connections.
How the mushroom memristors were made
The process began with the cultivation of nine samples of shiitake mycelium under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity. Once developed, they were sun-dried to stabilize them and then rehydrated with deionized water to reactivate their conductivity.
Each sample was integrated into a specially designed circuit to measure its electrical response to different voltages and frequencies. The results revealed a switching speed close to 5,850 hertz, with 90% accuracy.
The performance remained stable even after drying and rehydration processes, a feature that suggests high durability and potential for applications in extreme environments.
A green alternative to silicon
Mushroom memristors represent a new frontier in neuromorphic computing. Their manufacture does not require mining or harsh chemicals, and the materials can be composted at the end of their life cycle.
Additionally, their biological structure is capable of partially self-repairing, a property that could extend the lifespan of technological devices and reduce the volume of electronic waste.
The mycelium also shows natural resistance to radiation and adaptability to different environments, opening up possibilities for its use in sensors, satellites, or autonomous systems in hard-to-reach places.
Benefits of fungal innovation
Using mushrooms as a basis for electronics implies a profound shift towards regenerative technology. Firstly, it allows for the reduction of technological waste, one of the planet’s major pollutants.
Secondly, it democratizes innovation: materials can be locally cultivated, without relying on global supply chains or finite mineral resources.
Finally, these devices promote a new design philosophy: technological systems inspired by nature, where energy efficiency and sustainability are integrated from the outset.
The future of ecological computing
If the first digital revolution was born from silicon, the next could have living roots. Research with mushrooms marks the beginning of an era where electronics merge with biology to create technologies that grow, breathe, and degrade without harming the planet.
Scientists plan to optimize the performance of these memristors through the use of hybrid cultures and new methods of organic assembly.
The challenge now will be to scale this innovation without losing its ecological essence. In a world dominated by the climate crisis, mushrooms could become the foundation of future computing.
