Scientists at Ohio State University have developed organic memristors from shiitake and button mushrooms—devices capable of storing and processing digital data. The team grew the mushrooms, dried them, and integrated them with electronic circuits. When an electric current was passed through, the mushrooms switched electrical states roughly 5,850 times per second, performing similarly to conventional memory chips.
Although their accuracy dipped slightly at higher speeds, connecting multiple mushrooms together improved performance, mimicking the way neurons in the brain work collectively.
According to co-author Qudsia Tehmina, these mushroom-based chips are eco-friendly, easy to produce, biodegradable, and free from the toxic substances commonly found in traditional semiconductors.
This technology could spark a revolution across industries such as edge computing, autonomous systems, wearable devices, and even space research. It paves the way for low-energy, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective computers.
The research team’s next goal is to make these mushroom chips even smaller and more efficient, enabling devices grown in ordinary compost or natural environments to power future computers.
