Researchers develop computer components from mushroom mycelium

To combat the growing e-waste crisis exacerbated by the artificial intelligence boom, scientists are developing organic electronics using fungal mycelium. This field, known as fungal electronics, involves growing biodegradable circuit boards and memory chips in laboratory settings as sustainable alternatives to traditional silicon and rare earth metals.

Researchers at The Ohio State University have successfully utilized shiitake mushrooms to create organic memristors. These components are capable of remembering their past electrical states even after power is disconnected. By leveraging the natural electrical conductivity of mycelium—the root-like structure of fungi—engineers can harness biological networks to process digital information, potentially leading to fully compostable hardware.