Who thinks of trying these kinds of things? Researchers at Ohio State University have figured out how to use mushrooms as computer memory. They grew shiitake and button mushrooms, dried them out for several days, attached electrodes to them, and then sprayed them with a little water to make them conduct electricity again. The mushroom samples were then tested with different electrical signals to see if they could work like memristors, which are special computer parts that remember electrical signals even when the power is turned off.
At one volt, the mushrooms worked best and were even programmed to act like computer RAM, reaching speeds of almost 6,000 cycles per second with 90 percent accuracy. The scientists say mushroom-based computer parts have several benefits over regular electronics. They’re better for the environment, don’t need rare earth metals, are easier to grow than other biological materials, use less power, weigh less, and shiitake mushrooms can even handle radiation.
Source: Hackaday
