Mushrooms as Power Plants?

For those of us who already have an admiration for fungi, the idea of bionic mushrooms is particularly striking. These organisms, long investigated for their role in ecosystems, are now in the forefront of renewable energy revolution.

Scientists at Stevens Institute of Technology created “Bionic Mushrooms” by combining mushrooms with bacteria and nanotechnology. The process begins with a common white button mushroom. Using a 3D printer, scientists applied two types of ink to the mushroom’s surface. One ink contained graphene nanoribbons, a highly conductive material that acts like tiny electrical wiring. The second ink was packed with live cynobacteria (photosynthetic microorganisms that generate energy when exposed to light).

When the cyanobacteria receive light, they undergo photosynthesis and release electrons. These electrons are captured and transported by the graphene, creating a small but measurable electric current (roughly 65 nanoamperes per mushroom). The amount of power it generates might be small, but the real breakthrough is in how everything works together. The mushroom creates a perfect home for the bacteria, helping them live longer than they would on artifical surfaces. Meanwhile, the graphene makes energy transfer much more efficient. Thanks to this clever design, the system produces up to eight times more electricity than previous microbial power setups.

Implications for the Future

The possibilities with this technology are pretty incredible. Imagine a future where renewable energy doesn’t just come from giant solar panels or wind turbines, but from living things. Maybe mushrooms in your backyard could help power garden lights, or crops could be engineered to generate energy for their own sensors. It’s a whole new way of thinking about what green energy could look like.

The “Bionic Mushrooms” project also shows a broader movement within science: Utilizing the efficiency and adaptability of biological systems to solve technological challenges.

Globally, similar bio-hybrid energy projects have grabbed the world’s attention:

• MycoPower Project (EU): Based in the Netherlands, this initiative explores using fungal mycelium as bioelectric conduits to support microbial fuel cells. More information can be found on their website at mycopower.org.
• Living Algae Photovoltaics (Japan): Led by the University of Tokyo, this project has developed biophotovoltaic cells using genetically engineered algae to power small-scale electronic devices for extended periods. Details are available at biophotovoltaics.jp.
• GlowFungi Energy (Australia): A collaboration between the University of Sydney and CSIRO, this project investigates bio-luminescent fungi paired with nanomaterials to create sustainable, low-level electricity. Learn more at glowfungienergy.com.

Another interesting project that utilizes fungi’s power to generate energy is being developed at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). The Unconventional Computing Laboratory is exploring a fascinating concept: fungi as computational systems. Their research focuses on mycelium. These networks don’t just grow; they transmit electrical signals and respond to the world around them. In fact, they behave in ways strikingly similar to neural networks, leading scientists to explore their potential in unconventional computing.

How Does Fungal Computing Work?

Fungal networks generate electrical signals in response to environmental changes. By introducing specific stimuli such as light, chemicals, or mechanical pressure, researchers can get fungi to respond with specific, repeatable patterns of signals. These patterns can be interpreted like the binary code used in computers, where different types of stimuli represent 0s and 1s. In this way, fungal networks can perform basic logical operations such as AND, OR, and NOT just like the logic gates in digital circuits. (Visit unconventionalcomputing.org for the latest research and insights)