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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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Scientists Turn Fungus Into Biodegradable Circuit Boards That Could End Electronic Waste

Every year, millions of old smartphones, computers, toys, and other electronic devices are thrown away. While technology makes our lives easier, it also creates one of the fastest-growing waste problems on Earth—electronic waste, or e-waste. Most electronic devices contain printed circuit boards (PCBs), which act as the "brain" of the device by connecting all electronic components together.

The problem is that traditional circuit boards are made from glass fiber and petroleum-based epoxy resin. These materials are extremely difficult to recycle and can remain in landfills for decades. As the amount of e-waste continues to rise, scientists around the world are searching for greener alternatives.

Now, researchers at TU Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany have developed an exciting solution—a fully compostable printed circuit board made from fungal mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi. Their innovative research, published in the journal Cleaner Materials, could help build a cleaner and more sustainable future for electronics.

The Growing E-Waste Crisis

Electronic waste has become a major environmental challenge. Every year, millions of tons of discarded electronics end up in landfills, where valuable materials are lost and harmful chemicals can leak into the environment.

According to the Global E-waste Monitor, the world is expected to produce around 82 million metric tons of electronic waste by 2030. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of this waste is properly recycled.

One of the biggest reasons is the printed circuit board. These boards contain valuable metals such as copper, gold, and silver, but separating them from the tough plastic and fiberglass layers is expensive and difficult. As a result, many circuit boards are simply discarded.

Scientists believe that replacing these materials with biodegradable alternatives could significantly reduce future e-waste.

Turning Industrial Waste into Circuit Boards

The German research team found inspiration in an unexpected place—fungi.

More specifically, they used the mycelium of the fungus Aspergillus niger. This fungus is already widely used in industry to produce citric acid, which is found in soft drinks, food, medicines, and cosmetics.

After citric acid production, large amounts of fungal biomass are left behind as industrial waste. Instead of throwing this material away, the researchers transformed it into a useful engineering material.

Using a specially designed manufacturing process involving molding and air drying, the fungal biomass is converted into a hard, plastic-like plate.

The finished material forms a board about 0.5 centimeters thick with a density of 1.23 grams per cubic centimeter, making it remarkably similar to conventional printed circuit boards.

Instead of relying on fossil-fuel-based plastics, this new material gives industrial waste a completely new purpose.

Building Real Electronic Circuits

Creating a biodegradable board is one thing, but can it actually work as an electronic circuit?

The answer is yes.

The researchers successfully built working electronic circuits directly on the fungal boards.

They used two common manufacturing techniques:

  • Direct Ink Writing, which prints conductive materials directly onto the board.

  • Traditional Etching, the same method used to manufacture many commercial PCBs.

Electronic components were then attached using standard manual soldering techniques.

This means manufacturers would not necessarily need completely new production methods to work with fungal circuit boards.

Strong Enough for Real Applications

One of the biggest concerns with biodegradable materials is durability.

Would a fungal board be too weak or fragile?

Laboratory testing produced encouraging results.

According to Nina Oehlsen, the study's first author and doctoral researcher at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the fungal material demonstrated:

  • High mechanical strength

  • Good heat resistance

  • Stable structure during testing

Although the electrical performance does not yet match traditional fiberglass PCBs, it is already suitable for several practical applications.

The researchers believe these boards could be used for:

  • Environmental monitoring sensors

  • Smart consumer products

  • Educational electronics

  • Children's electronic toys

  • Prototype devices

  • Low-frequency electronic systems

These are products that often have relatively short lifespans, making biodegradability especially valuable.

Still Some Challenges to Solve

Despite its promise, the technology is not yet ready to completely replace traditional circuit boards.

The fungal material currently absorbs more water than standard PCB materials, which could affect long-term reliability in humid environments.

Before commercial use, the boards must also pass internationally recognized industry standards, including:

  • IPC-A-600

  • DIN EN 60249-1

These standards evaluate the quality, safety, durability, and electrical performance of printed circuit boards.

Researchers are now working to improve the material's resistance to moisture while maintaining its biodegradable nature.

A Much Smaller Carbon Footprint

One of the most impressive findings from the research is its environmental impact.

The scientists named their biodegradable board AnimatPCB.

Life-cycle analysis showed that producing AnimatPCB generates up to 56% less carbon dioxide (CO₂) than manufacturing conventional printed circuit boards.

This reduction comes from several factors:

  • It uses industrial waste instead of new raw materials.

  • No additional fossil-based plastics are required.

  • The manufacturing process consumes fewer resources.

  • Disposal is much simpler and environmentally friendly.

Because the material starts as a waste product, it also supports better resource efficiency.

Easy End-of-Life Recycling

Traditional circuit boards create major recycling challenges because their layers are permanently bonded together.

AnimatPCB works differently.

Once the electronic device reaches the end of its life, the fungal board can be safely dissolved in water.

This allows the electronic components, such as transistors, to be recovered more easily for reuse or recycling.

Meanwhile, the fungal board itself is fully biodegradable, meaning it naturally breaks down instead of remaining in landfills for decades.

This approach follows the principles of the circular economy, where materials are reused instead of discarded.

Giving Industrial Waste a New Purpose

The researchers emphasize that one of the most exciting aspects of the project is how it transforms industrial waste into a valuable product.

Instead of producing new plastic from petroleum, they use leftover fungal biomass that would otherwise be discarded.

According to Linus Stegbauer, junior professor for biogenic technical materials, the team successfully created a high-quality engineering material without using additional fossil resources.

This demonstrates how waste from one industry can become the raw material for another, reducing both pollution and manufacturing costs.

A Step Toward Sustainable Electronics

Electronic devices are becoming more common every year, from smart homes and wearable gadgets to Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.

As billions of devices are produced, reducing their environmental impact becomes increasingly important.

Researchers believe biodegradable electronics could become a key part of future sustainable technology.

Instead of leaving behind permanent plastic waste, future devices could safely return to nature after use while valuable electronic components are recovered and reused.

Economist Simon Glöser-Chahoud, who analyzed the material's environmental impact, says the project proves that high-quality electronic components can be developed without creating long-term environmental pollution.

The Future of Green Circuit Boards

The fungal circuit board is still in the research stage, but its potential is enormous. With further improvements in electrical performance, moisture resistance, and large-scale manufacturing, materials like AnimatPCB could one day replace many conventional circuit boards used in everyday electronics.

As the world moves toward more sustainable technologies, innovations like this show that nature itself can provide powerful engineering solutions. By turning industrial fungal waste into biodegradable electronics, scientists are not only reducing pollution but also paving the way for a future where technology and environmental responsibility can grow together.

The next generation of electronic devices may not just be smarter—they could also be cleaner, greener, and designed to leave almost no trace behind.

Reference: Nina Oehlsen et al, From biotechnological residues to biodegradable printed circuit boards: Aspergillus niger mycelium as a structural support material, Cleaner Materials (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.clema.2026.100416

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