 "The mushroom that you eat can power your laptop: Scientists find an alternative to rare earth-powered chips")
Looking into something new and crisp, a breakthrough which is straight out of a fiction, researchers have discovered an exceptional and amazing alternative to power your devices. The humble shiitake mushroom which is usually found in the kitchens could power the next generation of computers.
Research by scientists who study neuromorphic computing, which is a field that mimics how the human brain transmits information, have turned fungi into a sustainable, low-cost replacement for rare-earth materials used in advanced chips.
These neuromorphic systems rely on “memristors,” components that function like biological synapses which store and process data while consuming energy. Conventional memristors are built from costly semiconductor materials that demand complex fabrication. Neural organoids, or lab-grown brain tissues, have also been explored but require delicate maintenance.
By integrating electrodes with a fungal network, the team created what they referred to as “fungal memristors.” Remarkably, the fungal memristors maintained 90 per cent accuracy at frequencies up to 5.85 kHz, rivalling some early silicon-based prototypes.
With the evolving technology, the sustainability, fungal computing could dramatically reduce electronic waste. The Shiitake-based chips are biodegradable, grown from organic material and the question arises: Will they replace silicon based chips?
Well now as the mounting pressure to make tech greener, the idea of a “living computer” no longer sounds absurd. The next time you find shiitake mushrooms, consider this: the same fungus could one day help run your laptop, your car, or even an AI system.
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