Mushroom-Based Computers: The Future of Technology Unveiled
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Chapter 1: The Concept of Fungal Computing
Have you ever wondered about the possibility of utilizing mushrooms to construct computer devices? A group of researchers is exploring this fascinating idea and working towards its realization.
The Pleurotus ostreatus, commonly known as the oyster mushroom, is a familiar edible fungus that is not only delicious but also holds great potential in technology. This species, part of the Pleurotaceae family, is known for its ease of cultivation and has garnered attention for its unique electrical properties.
Researchers have discovered that the electrical networks within Pleurotus ostreatus are highly effective for developing computing networks. Additionally, these mushrooms could be integrated into wearable technology, acting as sensors that can be embedded in clothing or utilized in sensor computing circuits. A study titled "Reactive Fungal Wearable," published in Biosystems, highlights how Pleurotus ostreatus can respond to environmental stimuli, including those that might affect the human body.
Section 1.1: Mushroom Networks as Computational Circuits
Mushrooms like Pleurotus ostreatus could serve as biomaterials for various applications, including biosensors capable of detecting and differentiating chemical, electrical, and mechanical signals.
According to Mohammad Mahdi Dehshibi, a researcher at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya involved in this study, mushrooms are among the oldest and most widespread organisms on Earth. They exhibit rapid growth and effectively bond with their substrates.
In essence, scientists aim to reprogram the electrical networks of mushrooms, transforming them into functional computational circuits. These circuits could respond to stimuli and activate signals, enabling them to perform computational tasks and process information, as explained by Dehshibi.
The first video, The Mushroom Motherboard: The Crazy Fungal Computers that Might Change Everything, delves into how these fungal networks could revolutionize computing.
Section 1.2: Overcoming Challenges in Fungal Computing
While the idea of mushroom-based computers may seem like science fiction, researchers believe that these organisms can capture and respond to external signals in unprecedented ways. However, two significant challenges remain: finding practical applications for computation and characterizing the properties of fungal substrates through Boolean mapping to uncover the true computational capabilities of mycelium networks.
These would not serve as replacements for traditional silicon chips, as the reactions within mushrooms are comparatively slow. Instead, they could function as large-scale environmental sensors, monitoring slow data streams daily.
Chapter 2: Building with Fungal Materials
Researchers are also considering more practical applications, such as using fungal biomaterials for construction. These living organisms could serve as innovative building materials.
So far, scientists have successfully created bricks and slabs, and they anticipate that by December 2022, within the framework of the FUNGAR project, they will construct a full-scale building using these materials. This construction method promises a significant ecological shift, reducing reliance on concrete, glass, and wood. Dehshibi envisions schools, offices, and hospitals that grow, regenerate, and decompose, representing the pinnacle of sustainable living.
The second video, How Mushrooms Could One Day Be the Template for a Computer Chip, discusses the potential of fungi in future computing technologies.
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References: “Reactive Fungal Wearable” by Andrew Adamatzky, Anna Nikolaidou, Antoni Gandia, Alessandro Chiolerio, Mohammad Mahdi Dehshibi from Science Direct. Fungal architectures | FUNGAR Project | H2020 | CORDIS | European Commission.
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