Researchers at Ohio State University have made a groundbreaking advancement by developing computers that utilize mushrooms, presenting a sustainable alternative to conventional semiconductor technology. These innovative systems harness the structural and functional properties of fungi to process and store digital information, potentially transforming the landscape of computing.
According to a report from Ohio State News, scientists have engineered edible fungi, specifically shiitake mushrooms, to act as organic memristors. Memristors are crucial components in data processing, and this new approach utilizes unexpected biological materials to create them. The devices made from shiitake mushrooms exhibit memory effects that are comparable to those found in traditional semiconductor chips, and they also hold the promise of developing additional computing components that are inspired by neural activity.
John LaRocco, a member of the research team, stated that the ability to create microchips that emulate actual neural processes allows for lower power consumption during idle states or when the machine is not actively in use. This aspect highlights the efficiency and environmental benefits of these mushroom-based systems, as described in their published study.
Beyond their ecological advantages, the exploration of fungal electronics could lead to a decreased reliance on the expensive and limited resources that are typically needed for conventional memristors. The organic memristors that have quietly emerged present an opportunity to reduce energy consumption and waste produced by modern data centers. The research team at Ohio State University is optimistic that their findings will push the boundaries of what is achievable with next-generation computing materials.
While the concept of fungal electronics is still relatively novel, LaRocco”s research emphasizes the potential for mushrooms to revolutionize technology and pave the way for sustainable computing systems. He noted that the use of mycelium as a computing substrate has been investigated in various capacities before, but their work aims to explore the limits of these memristive systems further, revealing significant untapped potential in the realm of bioelectronics.
