Fungal networks may soon revolutionize computing as researchers explore their potential as alternatives to traditional metal devices used in data processing and storage. A new study highlights how mushrooms could transform bioelectronics, an emerging field that promises to develop innovative materials for next-generation computing.
Mushrooms have long been valued for their resilience and unique properties, making them ideal candidates for bioelectronics. Researchers at The Ohio State University recently discovered that common edible fungi, such as shiitake mushrooms, can be cultivated and trained to function as organic memristors. These data processors can remember past electrical states, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to semiconductor-based chips.
The Science Behind Fungal Computing
The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, demonstrated that shiitake-based devices could replicate the memory effects of traditional chips while also being used to create other environmentally friendly, brain-inspired computing components. According to John LaRocco, lead author and research scientist at Ohio State’s College of Medicine, these microchips mimic neural activity and require minimal power when not in use, presenting significant computational and economic advantages.
“Being able to develop microchips that mimic actual neural activity means you don’t need a lot of power for standby or when the machine isn’t being used,” said LaRocco. “That’s something that can be a huge potential computational and economic advantage.”
Exploring the Potential of Mycelium
Fungal electronics are not a new concept, but they are increasingly seen as ideal for sustainable computing systems. They minimize electrical waste by being biodegradable and are cheaper to produce than conventional memristors and semiconductors, which often rely on costly rare-earth minerals and consume significant energy.
“Mycelium as a computing substrate has been explored before in less intuitive setups, but our work tries to push one of these memristive systems to its limits,” LaRocco explained.
To test the capabilities of these new memristors, researchers cultured samples of shiitake and button mushrooms. Once mature, they were dehydrated for long-term viability, connected to electronic circuits, and subjected to various voltages and frequencies. The team discovered that when used as RAM, the mushroom memristor could switch between electrical states at up to 5,850 signals per second with about 90% accuracy. However, performance decreased as the frequency of the electrical voltages increased, a challenge that could be addressed by connecting more mushrooms to the circuit.
Implications for the Future
Qudsia Tahmina, co-author of the study and associate professor in electrical and computer engineering at Ohio State, emphasized the ease of programming and preserving mushrooms to function in unexpected and useful ways. “Society has become increasingly aware of the need to protect our environment and ensure that we preserve it for future generations,” said Tahmina. “So that could be one of the driving factors behind new bio-friendly ideas like these.”
The flexibility of mushrooms suggests potential for scaling up fungal computing. Larger mushroom systems may be useful in edge computing and aerospace exploration, while smaller ones could enhance autonomous systems and wearable devices.
Challenges and Opportunities
While organic memristors are still in early development, future work could optimize production by improving cultivation techniques and miniaturizing devices. Viable fungal memristors would need to be significantly smaller than current prototypes.
“Everything you’d need to start exploring fungi and computing could be as small as a compost heap and some homemade electronics, or as big as a culturing factory with pre-made templates,” said LaRocco. “All of them are viable with the resources we have in front of us now.”
The study was supported by the Honda Research Institute, with contributions from Ohio State co-authors Ruben Petreaca, John Simonis, and Justin Hill. As the field of bioelectronics continues to evolve, the integration of natural materials like mushrooms could pave the way for more sustainable and efficient computing technologies.
