Dr. Andrew Adamatzky and his team at the Unconventional Computing Lab have been working on an innovative project exploring the potential of mycelium as a medium for computation. Think mycelium computer, a biocomputer using fungi to process information.
Mycelium is capable of transporting nutrients, signals, and other information. The team has been investigating ways to harness these properties and use the fungi as a natural computing system.
While the concept of mycelium computers is intriguing, it is not without its challenges and limitations (much slower processing), however they offer several unique advantages and potential application
Sustainable electronics: Mycelium computers could serve as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional electronic devices, reducing the environmental impact of our ever-growing technological dependence.
Bio-sensing: Due to the fungi's sensitivity to various environmental factors, mycelium-based biocomputers could be employed to monitor environmental changes or detect harmful substances such as pollutants or toxins.
Decentralized computing: The decentralized nature of mycelium networks could potentially provide a robust means of distributing data and processing tasks, offering a novel approach to parallel computing and improved system resilience.
Biomedical applications: Mycelium computers may one day contribute to the field of regenerative medicine, by enabling tissue engineering and facilitating the development of biocompatible materials for implants or prosthetics.
As advances continue to be made in this field, these unconventional computing systems may play a crucial role in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet, from environmental sustainability to the ever-increasing demands of computation.
Check them out:
⌭ @adamatzky (Twitter)
⌭ 📸 Andrew Adamatzky / Irina Petrova Adamatzky
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