[Science] Bio-microchips?

[Granyaski]

Turns out that scientists at the university of Wisconsin have managed to create microchips from "wood"

Well actually not from wood but from a form of cellulose. They have past testing and from what I've read elsehwere they have created ones that can have up to 512mb of storage which is damn impressive.

One article here: http://gizmodo.com/wooden-computer-c...dge-1707021124

See, most of a computer chip is composed of a “support” layer that cradles the actual chip. The research team replaced that support layer’s non-biodegradable material with something called cellulose nanofibril (CNF), which is flexible, wood-based, biodegradable—all things that can make a device way less hazardous.
“Now the chips are so safe you can put them in the forest and fungus will degrade it,” says Professor Zhenqiang Ma, who led the team. “They become as safe as fertilizer.”

Apparently the issues are that they can react badly to extreme heat and certain types of bacteria but I personally think that if they can continue to develop and perfect this technology it could revolutionise computing and make it eco friendly!

Imagine if they were able to put this sort of stuff in animals and even humans.

[Adrian Ţepeş]

Originally Posted by Granyaski

Apparently the issues are that they can react badly to extreme heat and certain types of bacteria...

Who woulda thunk?

But that is pretty cool, I just can't wait to see if this makes a headline for new causes of deforestation, or at least environmentalists claiming it will do so.

[FileTrekker]

I think that's excellent if it can obviously be made to perform as well as modern microchips.

Disposing of electronic waste was always the biggest headache when I worked in the Health & Safety department at my old place, we had to follow something called the WEEE regulations and the amount of effort to separate and properly deal with electronic waste was a headache at the best of times.

So anything that makes it easier to deal with waste electronics that does not harm the environment is great.

[Mr. Matt]

All they need to do is make them out of potatoes and then frying your CPU will be seen as a good thing. And dickheads like me won't be able to make the 'OH NOES I CONFUSED MICROCHIPS WITH OVEN CHIPS' jokes anymore.

Though, while certainly impressive, I'm not sure I like the idea of my computer chips literally rotting away with time.