A Fungal Future for Computing?
In a development that sounds straight out of science fiction, researchers have built working memristors, memory resistors that mimic how the brain stores information — using shiitake mushroom mycelium.
The discovery, reported by Science Alert, could lead to a new generation of low-cost, energy-efficient memory hardware that functions more like a living brain than a traditional silicon chip.
What Exactly Are Memristors?
Memristors, short for memory resistors, are electronic components that can “remember” the amount of charge that has passed through them, even when the power is off.
They’re often compared to synapses in the human brain, which regulate how neurons communicate and store information. This makes them crucial to developing neuromorphic computing, computers that process information the way the brain does.
Most commercial memristors today use expensive or nonrenewable materials like titanium dioxide or silicon. The new mushroom-based model offers a potential, eco-friendly, and affordable alternative.
Why Shiitake Mushrooms?
Scientists turned to the mycelium, the branching network of fungal threads beneath mushrooms, which is known for its neuron-like electrical activity.
“Mycelial networks transmit both electrical and chemical signals, similar to how the brain communicates,” explained psychiatrist John LaRocco of Ohio State University, who co-authored the study. “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. That’s something that can be a huge potential computational and economic advantage.”
The team selected shiitake mushrooms for their resilience and consistent growth. Researchers cultivated nine mycelium samples under controlled lab conditions, allowing them to grow across petri dishes.
Once fully spread, the samples were dried under sunlight to preserve their structure for long-term use.
Turning Mushrooms into Memory Chips
After drying, the scientists integrated the mycelium into custom-built electrical circuits, connecting wires and probes to test its conductivity and responsiveness.
“We would connect electrical wires and probes at different points on the mushrooms because distinct parts of it have different electrical properties,” LaRocco said. “Depending on the voltage and connectivity, we were seeing different performances.”
The team’s fungal device, which they nicknamed the “mushristor,” demonstrated the ability to switch electrical signals at a speed of 5,850 Hertz, achieving roughly 90% accuracy.
That translates to about 170 microseconds per signal, which, while slower than most commercial memristors (nearly twice as fast), marks a remarkable performance for an early-stage organic prototype.
Voltage Sensitivity and Performance Boosts
Interestingly, researchers noticed that increasing the electrical voltage decreased the mushrooms’ performance, an indication that the organic material has a delicate tolerance threshold.
However, when they connected multiple mushroom samples in parallel, overall circuit functionality improved, hinting at a scalable model for future designs.
This adaptive behavior mimics biological systems, a hallmark of why living or semi-living materials are so compelling for AI and computing research.
Why This Matters for the Future of AI and Computing
The experiment supports a broader scientific movement toward biohybrid computing, systems that blend biological and synthetic materials to achieve energy-efficient, brain-like performance.
Traditional computers rely on silicon-based transistors that consume power even at rest. In contrast, biological systems, like the mycelial networks in mushrooms, only use energy when processing information, potentially leading to massive reductions in power consumption.
As LaRocco put it, “You don’t need a lot of power for standby or when the machine isn’t being used.” That could mean future computers capable of running advanced tasks with minimal environmental and economic cost.
The Road Ahead: Not Replacing Silicon Just Yet
While the concept of mushroom-powered computers is fascinating, it’s still in the very early stages. Current prototypes are slower, less stable, and far less scalable than traditional chips.
Still, the results signal that organic electronics could soon play a role in developing neuromorphic processors, hardware designed to think, learn, and adapt like the human brain.
The next step? Engineering more durable mycelium structures, improving conductivity, and integrating the technology into hybrid devices that combine living materials with traditional circuitry.
So, while your next smartphone probably won’t be powered by mushrooms, the idea of “living computers” may no longer belong solely to the realm of science fiction.
Key Findings: Mushroom-Based Memristors at a Glance
- Material Used: Shiitake mushroom mycelium
- Performance Speed: 5,850 Hertz (~170 microseconds per signal)
- Accuracy: ~90%
- Power Efficiency: Significantly higher than conventional circuits at standby
- Innovation: Low-cost, biodegradable alternative to titanium dioxide and silicon
- Nickname: “Mushristor”
TL;DR
Researchers built working memristors using shiitake mushroom mycelium, showing they can “remember” electrical states, much like brain synapses. The so-called “memristors” could lead to eco-friendly, low-power computing that mimics how the human brain processes information. Though still early in development, this breakthrough hints at a future where biological materials power neuromorphic computers.
