Written in TRENDS He 09/10/2023 · 12:39 p.m.

An investigation, conducted by the University of the West in England, has been shown to have created fungal skin, which is sensitive to touch and light, on robots. Opening up endless possibilities for future biotechnology discoveries.

The authors of the study, Antoni Gandía and Andrés Adamatzky, were inspired by the Terminator film released in 1984 to create this skin. This invention can be used as a sustainable and biodegradable sensor for electronic devices.

How can they make skin with fungus to use on robots?

The fungus used for this experiment was a species called ‘Ganoderma sessile’, which produces a structure called mycelium. First, they covered an 18-centimetre cyborg model with a substance called ‘agar’ to encourage the growth of fungus.

“Advances in mycelium technology, originating from mushroom electronics and the development of living mycelium shells and composites, “has opened new avenues in the integration of biological and artificial systems,” establish an investigation.

Next, they bathed the model in liquid to cover it with mold. After five days, the researchers made a surprising discovery: the cyborg was covered in organic skin. They describe this as the creation of a biocybernetic entity.

In addition, they make it sensitive to touch and light. “The mycelium, grown using existing techniques, grew homogeneously on the surface of the cyborg model, showing strong reactivity to various stimuli, such as light exposure and touch,” the authors explain.

For now, This study is waiting to be evaluated by other expert scientists. Although he points out that there is a possibility of combining biological and artificial systems.

“This innovative blend points to a sustainable future of biomaterials and the possible integration of these materials into new and existing technologies,” the study concludes.

This is how biotechnology advances and now robots may have mushroom-shaped skin, which will respond to tactile stimuli and exposure to light.