TECH – Scientists at Ohio State University (OSU) have discovered that certain fungi, including shiitake and button mushrooms, might serve as the building blocks for future computer chips—offering a biodegradable, energy-efficient alternative to traditional silicon. The study, published 30 October 2025, demonstrated that dried fungal tissue can function as a biological memristor, a component capable of remembering electrical states and switching between them in a manner similar to memory devices.
In the experiment, researchers cultivated samples of fungi in controlled conditions and then dried the material to preserve its internal structure. Electrodes were attached to the mushroom cap and stalk, and the electrical response of the network was measured under various voltages and frequencies. The circuits exhibited rapid switching—up to 5,850 transitions per second—with signal retention rates reaching roughly 90 percent when used in a memory-type role. The fungal network’s ability to behave like neural pathways led scientists to suggest potential for energy-efficient computing architectures, where power is only consumed when the device switches state, unlike conventional chips which draw current continuously.
A key impetus behind this research is the search for more sustainable electronics. Traditional silicon chips require rare metals, high-energy manufacturing and create substantial e-waste. In contrast, mushroom-based components are biodegradable, potentially low-cost, and capable of functioning without continuous power. Professor John LaRocco, lead author on the paper, stated, “The fungal material can mimic neuron-activity patterns without requiring constant electrical input.”
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However, the technology remains in early stages. Researchers must address the challenge of producing fungal devices with consistent electrical properties, as each specimen exhibits variation at the microscopic level. They also need to miniaturise the devices to match the scale of current microchips and demonstrate durability under real-world conditions. Dr Qudsia Tahmina, a co-researcher, noted the work “opens a new path to sustainable computing,” though cautioned that “reducing the size and enhancing device-to-device uniformity are key next steps.”
Potential applications include edge computing devices, low-power IoT sensors and even neural-network hardware capable of mimicking brain-like behaviour using fungal networks. Because the material has inherently complex pathways and branching structures, it could function more like a bio-inspired computing substrate than a traditional circuit. Earlier work in unconventional computing has already shown that fungal colonies can implement Boolean logic gates using resistive-capacitive networks.
In sum, the OSU study suggests that what we view as a simple edible fungus may hold the key to future chips machines that are lighter on resources, kinder to the planet and tailored for a world where computing moves from power-hungry silicon to adaptive, living materials.
