Protein shake and smart electronics

Feeling guilty about buying a new handset, knowing that your old phone is going to end up in a landfill? The good news is that a solution to the monumental problem of e-waste is in sight. Scientists are exploring biodegradable alternatives to electronic components, usually obtained through energy-intensive, ecologically hazardous mining processes. At the end of their life cycle, these components accumulate in landfills, polluting the air and soil.

The high environmental footprint of inorganic electronics — the world generated about 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022 — is driving researchers worldwide to look for alternatives. Picture this future scenario: genetically engineered organisms being grown in a broth to produce proteins that serve as components in electronics. The harvested proteins assemble spontaneously into molecular wires or complex nanostructures at room temperature. They are 3D-printed into flexible, biodegradable substrates to make sensors, wearable electronics and other gadgets that compost when discarded.