2023-09-16 12:08:43
Scientists Use Fungi to Develop Artificial Skin Modeled After the Terminator
Researchers have successfully grown fungi on a Terminator figure that is capable of sensing different stimuli. This breakthrough could potentially pave the way for the development of sustainable and biodegradable artificial skin.
Taking inspiration from the 1984 movie “The Terminator,” where a character’s skin is used as a sensory organ, researchers have created living skin made from fungus. This fungal skin can detect light and touch, making it a promising sustainable and biodegradable sensor for use in electronics.
Traditional electronic sensors that detect stimuli like light, temperature, and humidity are typically made from silicone. However, these sensors are difficult to manufacture and can only detect a limited range of stimuli at a time. According to biotechnologist Antoni Gandia of the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain, living organisms like fungi are much easier to produce and can sense multiple stimuli simultaneously, including touch, temperature, humidity, and light.
Motivated by these promising properties of fungi, Gandia and computer scientist Andrew Adamatzky of the University of the West of England decided to develop a fungal skin. In their research, described in an article on the preprint website Research Square, they tested this skin on a model of the Terminator.
“In ‘The Terminator,’ there is a scene where they implant the skin on the robot. The skin is not part of the robot, but it still transmits information to it and can repair itself,” explains Gandia. “We wanted to show that we can already do things like that.”
To create the fungal skin, Gandia and Adamatzky used the fungus Ganoderma sessile, which can grow on top of a liquid in a dense network of hyphae. They coated an 18 centimeter Terminator model with agar, a substance that stimulates mold growth, and then dipped it into the mold liquid. The model was left in a dark room for approximately a week to allow the mold to grow.
After just five days, the fungus had completely covered the surface of the model, creating an entirely organic skin. When the researchers connected electrodes to the model, they discovered that the fungus was sensitive to light and touch. The skin responded by producing various electrical signals.
Gandia hopes that this research will contribute to the wider use of fungi as natural sensors. Possible applications include buildings that can regulate their own temperature or personalized devices similar to Fitbit for monitoring the body. He sees hyphae, the branching filaments of fungi, as a living resource that can be utilized in various ways.
The development of a sustainable and biodegradable artificial skin has the potential to revolutionize the field of electronics. It could provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional sensors, reducing waste and environmental impact. As researchers continue to explore the capabilities of fungi, the possibilities for integrating natural materials into technology are expanding. The real-life implementation of a Terminator-like skin may not be too far off.]
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