Shiitake mushroom could become a living and sustainable chip, say researchers

In a laboratory in the United States, researchers have begun to look at a common kitchen ingredient, the shiitake mushroom, and have seen something that could transform the future of technology.

The mycelium, the network of filaments that forms the basis of fungi, has shown the ability to store information, almost like a small living computer. The discovery, according to the Earth.com website, paves the way for more sustainable chips inspired by nature.

Fungi that learn and remember

The study observed that the structure of the mycelium reacts to electrical stimuli, changing its resistance and creating patterns similar to a “biological memory”.

According to the website, scientists tested the ability of these fungi to switch electrical states thousands of times per second, a behavior essential for data storage.

The researchers explain that over time, the fungal material begins to recognize and stabilize certain patterns, as if it were “learning”. It is a process comparable to the basic functioning of artificial neural networks, but cultivated, not manufactured.
 

Another interesting point is that living chips can “hibernate”: after being dried in the sun, simply spraying water is enough to reactivate their electrical functions. Furthermore, according to the website, this rehydration process preserves performance and prevents structural damage.
Innovation born from the earth

To create these prototypes, the team cultivated mushrooms in a mixture of organic materials, such as wheat and hay. The proposal is simple: complex technologies built with accessible, biodegradable, and low-impact environmental resources.

Furthermore, according to Earth.com, the shiitake's natural resistance to extreme conditions, thanks to the compound lentinan, could make this technology useful even in hostile environments, such as space missions. In addition, the possibility of “cultivating” a chip reduces dependence on rare minerals and heavy industrial processes.

The researchers believe that this approach can evolve to different scales: from wearable devices to large computational systems. For them, combining nature and technology is not only possible but also a promising path to a more sustainable future.

With information from Earth.com.