Scientists create a functional diagram of a PC with mushrooms

Scientists at the Unconventional Computing Laboratory (UCL) at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) have developed computer who uses mushrooms in his schemes.

This creation uses mushroom mycelium in a key way. These are thin, root-like parts that can transmit electrical impulses, not unlike synapses in our brains.

urine and fungus

The case is an example wet dishesa concept that seeks to combine hardware, software and organic tissue.

In this sense fungus connected to the same network mycelium Underground inhabitants can sometimes communicate using electrical signals over considerable distances. This feature allowed scientists to use them as analog motherboard components.

“In fact, we found that fungus They produce spikes similar to action potential spikes. The same spikes that neurons produce,” said lead researcher Professor Andrew Adamacki. popular science. “We are the first laboratory to report peak activity fungus measured by microelectrodes, and the first to develop fungal electronics and computing.”

Bursts of electrical activity or lack thereof are translated into ones and zeros, respectively, mimicking an ingrained binary language. computers.

In what cases can it be used?

Adamatsky reports that you computers they cannot yet be compared with traditional equipment. Although it is argued that incentives fungus at two separate points, it increases the conductance for fast and reliable communication, not close to the speed of solid state electronics.

“Right now, these are just feasibility studies. We just show that it is possible to implement calculations and it is possible to implement basic logic circuits and basic electronic circuits with mycelium”, explained Adamatsky. “In the future, we can develop computers and more advanced respawn control devices.

Thus, this research may benefit some interfaces, such as the brain/PC, for the application of diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

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