Michael Davis
A bionic mushroom is a hybrid of nanotech, bacteria, and fungi. Researchers have transformed an ordinary white button mushroom from a grocery store into a bionic mushroom by supercharging it with 3D-printed clusters of cyanobacteria that generate electricity and swirls of graphene nanoribbons that can collect the current. The bionic mushroom is a part of a broader effort to improve our understanding of cells' biological machinery and how to use those intricate molecular gears and levers to fabricate new technologies and useful systems for defence, healthcare, and the environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is it? | A bionic mushroom is an ordinary white button mushroom from a grocery store that has been made bionic by researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology. |
| How is it made? | By supercharging it with 3D-printed clusters of cyanobacteria that generate electricity and swirls of graphene nanoribbons that can collect the current. |
| What does it do? | Generates electricity, acting as a tiny solar panel. |
| What is it useful for? | It can be used as a pesticide sensor, to detect viruses or other potential biohazards in the air. |
| What are its limitations? | It produces a very small amount of electricity, about a 7-millionth of the current needed to power a 60-watt light bulb. |
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What You'll Learn
How bionic mushrooms are made
Bionic mushrooms are made by fusing nanotech, bacteria, and fungi. The process involves taking an ordinary white button mushroom and supercharging it with 3D-printed clusters of cyanobacteria that generate electricity and swirls of graphene nanoribbons that can collect the current.
Firstly, the cyanobacteria are 3D printed onto the mushroom's cap in a densely packed spiral pattern. Cyanobacteria are known for their ability to photosynthesize and produce electricity. By shining a light on the mushrooms, their photosynthesis is activated, generating a photocurrent.
Secondly, a matrix of graphene nanoribbons, mixed with a conductive polymer to create a conductive 3D printable "electronic ink", is printed over the bacteria. Graphene is known for its ability to conduct electricity. This printed network serves as an electricity-collecting network, allowing the system to access the bio-electrons generated inside the cyanobacterial cells.
The electricity generated by the system is then wired down through the stem of the mushroom. While the amount of electricity produced by a single bionic mushroom is small, the scientists are working on connecting multiple mushrooms in an array to increase the electrical output.
The creation of bionic mushrooms is an exciting development in the field of green electronics, offering new ways of combining nature with technology to generate clean energy and potentially power devices.
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The purpose of bionic mushrooms
The process involves covering a typical button mushroom with bacteria capable of producing electricity, such as cyanobacteria, and strands of graphene or nanoribbons that collect the current. Shining a light on the structure activates the bacteria's ability to photosynthesize, and as the cells harvest this glow, they generate electricity. The fungi provide a viable surface for the bacteria to grow and nutrients to stay alive, creating a symbiotic relationship.
The main purpose of bionic mushrooms is to explore clean and environmentally friendly ways to generate energy, reducing the world's reliance on fossil fuels. While the amount of electricity produced by a single bionic mushroom is small, scientists are working on connecting multiple mushrooms in an array to increase the electrical output. They envision that this technology could eventually be used to power devices, with potential applications in fields such as defence, healthcare, and the environment.
In addition to power generation, bionic mushrooms have other potential purposes. For example, they could be used as sensors to detect pesticides, toxins, or potential biohazards in the environment. By integrating bacteria that can sense toxins or glow, these mushrooms could act as small hotspots of sensors, sending signals to nearby receivers and providing valuable information without the need for human presence in dangerous areas.
While the development of bionic mushrooms is still in its early stages, the merging of biology and technology opens up numerous possibilities for future applications in various fields. The creation of "bio-hybrids" from fungi and bacteria showcases the potential for innovative solutions in a more sustainable and eco-friendly direction.
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The challenges of creating bionic mushrooms
Creating bionic mushrooms that generate electricity is a challenging task that requires a combination of fungi, graphene, 3D printing, and photosynthetic bacteria. While the concept is promising, several challenges must be addressed to make it a practical reality.
One of the primary challenges is keeping the bacteria alive. Cyanobacteria, which are known for their ability to generate electricity through photosynthesis, have traditionally struggled to survive in artificial conditions. They thrive in warm, still waters but often perish on surfaces like silicon. The use of a living mushroom as a substrate helps prolong their lifespan, indicating a potential symbiotic relationship. However, more research is needed to fully understand and optimize this symbiosis.
Another challenge lies in the printing process. Bionic mushrooms require precise 3D printing of bacteria and graphene nanoribbons onto the curved surface of the mushroom. This demands advancements in printing technology capable of depositing microbes and nanomaterials in specific spatial geometrical patterns. The density and alignment of the bacteria also play a crucial role in electricity generation, requiring careful arrangement to maximize output.
Furthermore, the current output of bionic mushrooms is relatively small. The electricity generated is in the form of a "photocurrent," produced when light shines on the bacteria, triggering photosynthesis. While an array of these mushrooms might be sufficient to power an LED light, the output is a fraction of what is needed for most electronic devices. Increasing the electrical current produced by bionic mushrooms is an ongoing area of research.
Lastly, the development of practical applications for bionic mushrooms is a complex task. While the concept holds promise for various fields, including healthcare, defence, and the environment, translating these possibilities into tangible products is challenging. For example, while bionic mushrooms can sense pesticides and potentially detect viruses or biohazards, developing wireless capabilities and integrating them into monitoring systems requires additional engineering.
In conclusion, while bionic mushrooms present an exciting opportunity to merge biology and electronics, several challenges must be overcome before they can find widespread practical use. Further research and innovation are needed to address the challenges of bacteria survival, printing technology, electricity output, and the development of specific applications.
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Potential applications of bionic mushrooms
Bionic mushrooms are created by combining fungi, graphene, 3D printing, and photosynthetic bacteria. The result is a mushroom that can generate electricity.
Energy
The most obvious application of bionic mushrooms is energy generation. While the amount of electricity generated by these mushrooms is currently very small, researchers believe that an array of these mushrooms could eventually power devices such as LED lights.
Biomedical Applications
Bionic mushrooms could be used for biomedical applications. For instance, a bacteria and fungal device could be used to monitor the inside of the gut, activate medication, or modify dosage.
Pesticide Sensors
In their current form, bionic mushrooms can be used as pesticide sensors. They can give farmers an idea of the concentration of pesticides in their fields.
Virus and Biohazard Detection
Bionic mushrooms could be used to detect viruses and other biohazards in the air. They could be grown in the field and, if augmented with wireless technology, could send a signal to a nearby receiver, alerting humans to potential dangers without putting them at risk.
Environmental Remediation
Mushrooms have been used to remediate polluted soil and water. This process, known as myco-remediation, depends on certain enzymes that mushrooms can produce to degrade organic pollutants.
Drug Development
Poisonous mushrooms can be used to extract non-peptide secondary metabolites for drug development.
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The future of bionic mushrooms
In healthcare, bionic mushrooms could be used for biomedical applications. For instance, a bacteria and fungal device could monitor the gut, activate medication, or modify dosages. Additionally, bionic mushrooms could sense the presence of viruses or biohazards, such as Ebola, without risking human exposure. This capability could be further enhanced by integrating wireless technology, creating small sensor hotspots that transmit signals to nearby receivers.
In the field of defence, bionic mushrooms could be used to create "designer bio-hybrids." By combining microbes with nanomaterials, researchers could develop unique systems with potential defence applications.
For the environment, bionic mushrooms offer a green and eco-friendly technology that limits waste. They can generate clean, renewable energy by harnessing the power of cyanobacteria, a photosynthetic bacterium capable of converting sunlight into energy. This approach could help reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels and address the growing concerns over climate change.
While the current focus is on understanding and improving the technology, the ultimate goal is to scale up bionic mushroom arrays to power small devices and LED lights. Researchers are also exploring ways to increase the electrical currents produced by these mushrooms, making them more useful for practical applications.
In conclusion, bionic mushrooms represent a fascinating intersection of biology and electronics, with a bright future in various sectors, especially healthcare, defence, and clean energy generation. The ongoing research and development in this field will likely lead to innovative solutions that leverage the unique capabilities of these bio-hybrid systems.
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Frequently asked questions
A bionic mushroom is an ordinary mushroom that has been turned into a generator of electricity.
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have taken an ordinary white button mushroom and made it bionic by supercharging it with 3D-printed clusters of cyanobacteria that generate electricity and swirls of graphene nanoribbons that can collect the current.
Shining a light on the mushrooms activates cyanobacterial photosynthesis, generating a photocurrent.
Bionic mushrooms can be used to generate green energy at a time of growing concern over climate change. They can also be used to detect pesticides, viruses, and other potential biohazards in the air.
