In disturbing news for flies, scientists have successfully hooked a Venus flytrap up to an artificial brain.
In disturbing news for flies, scientists have successfully hooked a Venus flytrap up to an artificial brain.
Well, technically it’s an “artificial neurosynaptic system”, but “brain” sounds cooler.
Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, created an artificial system of neurons and synapses to see if it could be integrated into a biological structure. While most artificial devices have poor biocompatibility, low energy efficiency and complex circuitry, this system emulates the signalling characteristics of a human brain by using electrical spikes to communicate.
According to a paper published in Nature Communications, the researchers were able to integrate their system with a Venus flytrap plant. By applying an electrical pulse to an artificial neuron, the plant could be induced to snap its mouth shut.
Not to brag, but I figured out how to make a Venus flytrap close its mouth by sticking my finger in it when I was a kid. It’s not that complicated.
The authors say that their findings could facilitate the development of future implantable devices and brain-machine interfaces.
Let’s hope so, for the sake of Elon Musk’s monkeys.
15 out of 23 monkeys implanted with Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chips have reportedly died: https://t.co/WrAW6BqU75 pic.twitter.com/oh2giLblLT
— Consequence (@consequence) February 11, 2022
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