Laura Smith
The world's first bionic mushroom was invented by Manu Mannoor, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Sudeep Joshi, an applied physicist, at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. The bionic mushroom is a classic white button mushroom equipped with 3D-printed graphene nanoribbons that collect electricity generated by densely packed 3D-printed cyanobacteria. The researchers printed two inks onto their mushrooms—a green ink made of cyanobacteria and a black ink made of graphene. When light is shone on the bionic mushroom, it absorbs sunlight via its cyanobacteria and turns it into energy via photosynthesis. The electricity is then collected by the nanoribbons, which can be extracted later.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventors | Manu Mannoor, Sudeep Joshi, and their team |
| Institution | Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey |
| Type of Mushroom | Agaricus bisporus, or white button mushroom |
| Bacteria Used | Cyanobacteria (blue-green bacteria or algae) |
| Nanomaterial Used | Graphene nanoribbons |
| Process | Cyanobacteria absorb sunlight and convert it into energy through photosynthesis. The graphene nanoribbons collect the electricity produced. |
| Current Generated | 70 nanoamps (as of 2020) |
| Applications | Sensing biohazards, biomedical applications (e.g., gut monitoring, medication activation), pesticide sensing |
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What You'll Learn
- The bionic mushroom was developed by researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology
- The mushroom combines 3D printing, conductive ink, and cyanobacteria
- The cyanobacteria generate electricity through photosynthesis
- The electricity is collected by graphene nanoribbons
- Potential applications include sensing biohazards and biomedical uses
The bionic mushroom was developed by researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology
The researchers set out to create a new source of green power by harnessing the electricity-generating capabilities of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green bacteria or algae). They chose to use white button mushrooms as a substrate for the bacteria, as mushrooms naturally host a wide array of bacteria and other microbes. The bacteria were 3D printed onto the curved surface of the mushroom caps in a spiral pattern, along with graphene nanoribbons to collect the electricity generated by the bacteria.
The process of getting the microbes to accept their new home on the mushroom and figuring out how to print on a curved surface took months of work and innovative solutions. The researchers had to write a computer program to enable 3D printing on the curved mushroom tops. They also had to keep the bacteria alive during the process, which had proven challenging for previous researchers.
The resulting "bionic mushroom" combines nature with electronics, demonstrating how to take advantage of the natural processes of cells. When light is shone on the mushroom, the cyanobacteria absorb sunlight and turn it into energy via photosynthesis. The electricity is then collected by the nanoribbons and can be extracted later. The researchers believe that an array of these bionic mushrooms could generate enough electricity to power an LED.
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The mushroom combines 3D printing, conductive ink, and cyanobacteria
Researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey have developed a new source of green power by transforming ordinary white button mushrooms into 'bionic' fungi capable of producing eco-friendly electricity. The bionic mushroom combines 3D printing, conductive ink, and cyanobacteria.
The process involves adding cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green bacteria) and graphene nanoribbons to the cap of the mushrooms to generate and collect electricity. The researchers used 3D printing to deposit the bacteria precisely onto the curved surface of the mushroom cap. The bacteria were printed in a spiral pattern using a green bio-ink made of cyanobacteria, which intersected with the black electronic ink of the nanoribbons.
Cyanobacteria are known for their ability to photosynthesize, a process that splits water molecules and releases electrons. The bacteria spit out many of these stray electrons, and when enough electrons build up in one place, they can create an electrical current. By integrating cyanobacteria with nanoscale materials capable of collecting the current, the researchers were able to create a functional bionic system.
The conductive 3D-printable ink used in the process was made by mixing graphene nanoribbons with a conductive polymer. This ink was then printed over the bacteria, creating a matrix that collected the electricity generated by the cyanobacteria. When light is shone on the bionic mushroom, it absorbs sunlight via its cyanobacteria and turns it into energy through photosynthesis, with the electricity collected by the nanoribbons.
The bionic mushroom demonstrates the potential for combining living things, such as bacteria and mushrooms, with non-living materials like graphene, to create innovative bio-hybrid applications. While the amount of electricity generated by the bionic mushroom is small and not yet ready for practical use, researchers believe that an array of these mushrooms could generate enough electricity to light up an LED.
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The cyanobacteria generate electricity through photosynthesis
Sudeep Joshi, an applied physicist at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, and his colleagues developed a method to generate electricity using bionic mushrooms. The process involves combining 3D printing, conductive ink, and cyanobacteria to create a mini energy farm.
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a group of autotrophic gram-negative bacteria capable of obtaining biological energy through oxygenic photosynthesis. They are one of the most genetically diverse groups of organisms, occupying a wide range of habitats, including freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.
During photosynthesis, cyanobacteria use water as an electron donor and produce oxygen as a byproduct. They absorb sunlight and use the energy to split water molecules into hydrogen ions and oxygen. This process releases electrons, which can create an electrical current when enough of them accumulate.
In the bionic mushroom experiment, Joshi's team printed cyanobacteria onto the caps of white button mushrooms using 3D printing technology. The cyanobacteria on the mushrooms absorbed sunlight and converted it into energy through photosynthesis. The electricity generated by the cyanobacteria was then collected by graphene nanoribbons embedded in the mushroom caps.
The researchers found that the more densely packed the bacteria, the more electricity they produced. While the amount of current generated by a single bionic mushroom is small, the team believes that an array of these mushrooms could generate enough electricity to power an LED light.
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The electricity is collected by graphene nanoribbons
Researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey have developed a way to generate electricity from ordinary white button mushrooms. The process involves adding cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green bacteria) and graphene nanoribbons to the cap of the mushrooms. The graphene nanoribbons play a crucial role in collecting the electricity generated by the system.
The nanoribbons are made of graphene, a material known for its excellent electrical conductivity. By printing a matrix of graphene nanoribbons mixed with a conductive polymer, the researchers created a conductive 3D printable ink. This ink was then printed over the cyanobacteria on the mushroom's cap. The nanoribbons form a grid across the bacteria, allowing them to collect the electrons produced during photosynthesis.
When light is shone on the bionic mushroom, the cyanobacteria absorb sunlight and convert it into energy through photosynthesis. During this process, the cyanobacteria release stray electrons, creating an electrical current. The graphene nanoribbons are strategically placed to capture these electrons and collect the resulting electricity.
The electricity generated by the system is small, about a 7-millionth of the current needed to power a 60-watt light bulb. However, the researchers believe that an array of these bionic mushrooms could generate enough electricity to light up an LED. The collected electricity can be extracted from the nanoribbons and potentially used for various applications.
The development of this bionic mushroom demonstrates the potential of combining nature with electronics. By merging the biological and non-biological worlds, researchers have created a functional bionic system that harnesses the unique properties of both elements. This innovation opens up possibilities for future bio-hybrid applications and explores new ways of generating eco-friendly electricity.
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Potential applications include sensing biohazards and biomedical uses
Researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey have developed a bionic mushroom that generates electricity. The team, led by Manu Mannoor and Sudeep Joshi, added cyanobacteria and graphene nanoribbons to the cap of a white button mushroom. The bacteria perform photosynthesis, converting sunlight into energy and producing stray electrons in the process. The nanoribbons then collect the resulting electricity, which can be extracted and stored.
While the amount of electricity produced by these bionic mushrooms is currently very small, the researchers believe that an array of these mushrooms could eventually generate enough electricity to power an LED. This proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates the potential for combining living things, such as bacteria and mushrooms, with non-living materials like graphene.
One of the potential applications of this technology is in sensing biohazards and biomedical uses. According to Mannoor, "We’ve started thinking more in terms of how do we use this for biomedical applications." For example, a bacteria-coated mushroom could be used to monitor the inside of the gut, activate medication, or modify dosages. Mannoor also suggests that these mushrooms could be used to detect the presence of viruses or other potential biohazards in the air, such as Ebola, without putting humans at risk. The mushrooms would act as small hotspots of sensors, sending signals to a nearby receiver.
While the bionic mushrooms are not yet ready for practical use, the researchers are optimistic about the potential for combining biology and electronics. Mannoor states, "We can actually interface and merge between the world of biology and the world of electronics, where in the final system we won’t be able to tell where the biology ends and the electronic begins."
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Frequently asked questions
Manu Mannoor, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, and his team, invented the bionic mushroom.
The bionic mushroom combines 3D printing, conductive ink, and cyanobacteria to generate electricity. The cyanobacteria are photosynthesizers, and the graphene nanoribbons collect the electricity generated.
The bionic mushroom can be used to detect the presence of viruses or other potential biohazards in the air. It can also be used in the biomedical field to monitor the inside of the gut, activate medication, or modify dosage.
The bionic mushroom demonstrates how to take advantage of the natural processes of cells and combines the worlds of biology and electronics. It shows the potential of merging living things with non-living materials.
