Shiitake mushrooms could replace rare metals in future computers
Ohio State University researchers have figured out that the mycelium from shiitake mushrooms can act like tiny memory devices called memristors.
This means future computer hardware could be built from biodegradable, eco-friendly materials instead of rare metals.
How to make a memristor
They grew shiitake mycelium on things like farro and wheat germ, kept the conditions just right, then dried out the samples and hooked them up to circuits.
These mushroom-based memristors could switch states nearly 6,000 times per second with about 90% accuracy.
Fungal chips could be used in space
Fungal memristors use less energy, break down naturally, and even resist harsh environments like radiation.
While they're slower than regular silicon chips, they could be perfect for sustainable tech in places where durability matters—think edge computing or even space gear.