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Mushroom Cyborgs: The Bizarre Fusion of Robotics and Fungal Life
In the rapidly evolving world of AI and robotics, researchers at Cornell University have taken an unexpected turn, creating a literal cyborg - a hybrid of robotic parts and a living organism. This peculiar creation combines the mechanical prowess of robotics with the biological capabilities of a rather unusual source: the humble mushroom.
The researchers began by growing a king oyster mushroom in a lab, harnessing the intricate underground network of the mushroom's mycelium - the root-like structures that allow fungi to communicate and transport nutrients. By connecting electrodes to this mycelium network, the team was able to tap into the electrical signals that fungi use to "communicate" across vast distances.
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