Mushrooms are miracles. They provide us with food, alcohol, medicine and the essential decomposition that keeps life going. And yet their potential could be far greater. Mushrooms can be made into computer chips, biobatteries, circuit boards, insulation, self-repairing building materials and reactive clothing. They can even devour plastic, absorb heavy metals and remove pollution.
Make no mistake: the future is a mushroom.
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10 computer
Not only are shiitake mushrooms delicious, they could also be the next step in computer science. In October 2025, researchers at Ohio State University announced that these mushrooms could serve as organic memory devices. Adult mushrooms were dried for preservation and connected to custom-made circuits. The mushrooms were then exposed to different electrical currents. The team found that mushroom-based RAM can switch between electrical states at an astonishing speed of 5,850 per second and with 90% accuracy, mimicking the action of semiconductors. At higher frequencies, the mushrooms performed worse, but stability increased when individual mushrooms were connected to each other, mirroring the behavior of human neurons.
Lead researcher John LaRocco notes that mushroom electronics are not entirely new, but their potential for sustainable computing is revolutionary. Mushroom materials are inexpensive, biodegradable and require less energy to produce. They could eliminate e-waste and reduce dependence on rare earths. While mushroom chips are currently slower than silicon, researchers expect them to be used in aerospace research, edge computing and wearable devices.[1]
9 Plastic-eating mushrooms
We have a plastic problem. A century ago, plastic was introduced as a cheap and durable wonder material. Now it's clogging up landfills and decimating sea life. We produce more than 440 million tons (400 million tons) of plastic every year, and much of it becomes waste. Mushrooms could offer a solution.
In 2011, Yale University students made a remarkable discovery in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest: a fungus that could survive by eating plastic. Pestalotiopsis microspora can thrive on polyurethane as its sole energy source and thrive in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor environments, such as landfills.
It is not alone. In 2017, scientists found another species Aspergillus tubingensisthat polyurethane can break down within weeks. In 2024, researchers discovered Parengyodontium alum lives in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and is able to digest UV-exposed polyethylene. Taken together, these mushrooms suggest a future in which plastic pollution could break down naturally rather than persisting for centuries.[2]
8 insulation
Mushrooms could also be the key to greener homes. Grown on agricultural waste, mushroom root-like threads – or mycelium – can be formed into foam-like blocks that compete with fiberglass or mineral wool for insulation. These blocks are lightweight, naturally fire resistant and have impressive acoustic and thermal properties. They are also carbon negative, fully biodegradable and require far less energy to produce.
In Alaska, where temperatures can range from −61 °C (−78 °F) in winter to 38 °C (100 °F) in summer, mycologist Philipe Amstislavski has developed fungal isolation using native species that grow on wood pulp. Traditional insulation methods, he notes, “essentially involve wrapping your house in a plastic bag.” His team's mycelium-based materials have survived nine years of testing without mold and provide breathable insulation that improves air quality. Further research to determine long-term durability is ongoing, but results so far look promising.[3]
7 Mycoremediation
Fungi can devour pollution. The process, known as mycoremediation, relies on digestive enzymes secreted by fungi to break down toxic chemicals such as pesticides and petrochemicals. They can even absorb heavy metals like lead, mercury and cadmium.
The concept dates back to 1963 The Journal of Phytopathology published research on the ability of white rot fungi to break down chlorophenols. That same year, U.S. government researchers Catherine Duncan and Flora Deverall investigated similar uses for wood-decaying fungi.
Modern studies have confirmed the effectiveness of mushrooms. At researcher Danielle Stevenson's brownfield projects in Los Angeles, hydrocarbon pollutants fell by 50% within three months and heavy metals fell by up to 50% within a year. Oyster mushrooms have now been used to clean up diesel spills and filter contaminated wastewater. Although the mushrooms themselves become poisonous and cannot be eaten, their ability to restore polluted land is extraordinary.[4]
6 leather
Processing animal leather is expensive and harmful to the environment, while most faux leather relies on fossil fuels. Mushrooms offer a cleaner alternative. The secret lies in the mycelium – the thread-like root structure – which forms dense mats on organic substrates. After compression and treatment, these mats resemble leather in texture and durability. Some even “heal” small punctures when immersed in a nutrient bath that reactivates the living fibers.
Mycelium leather is biodegradable and inexpensive. It is made from agricultural waste such as corn husks and sawdust, eliminating the toxins and water waste of tanning. Studies show that its carbon footprint is over 90% lower than traditional leather. Major brands such as Hermès, Stella McCartney and Calvin Klein have collaborated with companies that produce these mushroom leathers such as MycoWorks and Bolt Threads. The global mushroom leather market reached $12 million in 2024 and could cross $300 million by 2033.[5]
5 Batteries
In January 2025, Swiss researchers announced a biodegradable biobattery powered entirely by mushrooms. The 3D printed device utilizes the complementary metabolism of two types of fungi: yeast on the anode and white rot fungus on the cathode. When sugar is added, the yeast's metabolism produces electrons that flow to the white rot fungus, creating an electrical current.
To build the batteries, mushroom cells are mixed with carbon particles and ink to increase conductivity, then printed layer by layer. Once dry, they can be activated simply by adding water and nutrients. When they are used up, they can be composted without harming the environment.
While these batteries currently only produce a modest 0.3 volts – enough to power sensors for days – they could play an important role in environmental monitoring and low-power electronics.[6]
4 Insoles
Athlete's foot is usually something to avoid – or is it? Mushroom insoles represent a state-of-the-art biowearable technology made from mycelium. Unlike standard insoles, these smart mushroom versions can detect changes in moisture, load and movement while generating their own electricity.
Because fungal networks naturally conduct electrical signals, they can sense pressure and movement and adapt in real time. This has potential applications in athletic performance, posture correction, and even medical diagnosis of conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
The deposits are made by allowing Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom) to colonize a substrate. Traditional insoles made from petrochemical foams can't compete in terms of sustainability – or their ability to repair themselves. The biggest challenge is keeping the mushrooms moist enough to work without soaking the wearer's shoes.[7]
3 Keep foods with mushrooms fresh
Do you want to keep food fresh? Try mushrooms. In 2025, researchers at the University of Maine created a waterproof, food-safe film from edible mushrooms that could replace single-use plastics.
The team combined turkey tail mushrooms with a nutrient-rich solution made from plant fibers and applied the mixture to denim, polyester, felt and paper. After four days, the treated materials were water, oil and grease repellent, while the untreated samples absorbed moisture immediately.
The coating consists of Versicolor documents Mycelia form a layer that is as thin as a layer of paint but just as effective. According to researcher Catherine Howell, the cellulose-mycelium mixture can even be sprayed onto 3D surfaces such as cups or trays. In the future, environmentally friendly mushroom coatings could protect food packaging without plastic waste.[8]
2 Circuit boards
Every day the world produces more than 140,000 tons of electronic waste. To combat this, researchers at Austria's Johannes Kepler University have investigated the use of fungi to produce biodegradable circuit boards.
While examining insulation materials, a doctoral student discovered bracket fungus Ganoderma lucidum forms a robust “skin” over its substrate. After peeling and drying, the skin forms flexible, heat-resistant sheets that resemble parchment. The researchers used layers of gold and copper to print circuits onto the fungal skin, then etched away the excess with lasers, leaving only conductive pathways.
These fungus-based panels can withstand temperatures above 200°C and will safely decompose after disposal. They offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic-based electronics – and could help curb our growing e-waste crisis.[9]
1 Self-healing concrete
Concrete cracks. Even small cracks can lead to catastrophic infrastructure failures. In 2018, researchers at Rutgers and Binghamton universities proposed a surprising solution: a fungus that repairs concrete from the inside out.
By embedding dormant spores of Trichoderma reesei By adding nutrients and nutrients to the concrete mix, the team discovered that water and oxygen entering a crack reawakens the fungus. As it grows, it precipitates calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), sealing the damage before going dormant again.
This technique can repair cracks up to 5mm wide – larger than any previous bacterial method. Because fungi are more resilient than bacteria, they can survive for years in rough, dry concrete. If rolled out on a large scale, the self-healing mushroom concrete could extend the life of bridges, dams and power plants and dramatically reduce maintenance costs.[10]