Scientists build artificial neurons that work like real ones

Submitted ⁨⁨7⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨gedaliyah@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨technology@lemmy.world⁩

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251013040335.htm

UMass Amherst engineers have built an artificial neuron powered by bacterial protein nanowires that functions like a real one, but at extremely low voltage. This allows for seamless communication with biological cells and drastically improved energy efficiency. The discovery could lead to bio-inspired computers and wearable electronics that no longer need power-hungry amplifiers.

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dipdowel@feddit.nl ⁨22⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago
Is it naive to assume that this could potentially simplify building brain-computer interfaces? Or at least make them safer?

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IcedRaktajino@startrek.website ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

This allows for seamless communication with biological cells

Smartphones in 2040:

Image

Whatever. As long as I can run LineageOS or Debian on it.

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- gedaliyah@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  noooo deeebiiiian, juuusst caaaandy cruuuush
  
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  - MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    SWEET!
    
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Neuromancer49@midwest.social ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Credentials: I published in this field, but I don’t have time to read the entire paper right now.

This is exciting work. Based on the key highlights, it sounds like their work focuses on how plausible it is to construct the bio-artificial neuron, and they have done so with great success.

What I would like to learn about is what advantages this technology has compared to just cultivating neurons on a microelectrode array. Are the artificial cells easier to maintain? Do they interface with electrodes without developing glial scarring like our brains do? Can they bio-engineer special proteins (e.g. optogenetic channels) easier in these cells than in mouse lines?

Until these advantages are spelled out, it feels like we’re re-invented the biological wheel. We already have cells that can integrate and fire at low voltages. They’re called neurons. Why did we need artificial ones?

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- shrugs@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Thanks for the insight. Lemmy starts to feel like reddit in the past were some specialist or the author of the paper chimed in on the discussion.
  
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  - Neuromancer49@midwest.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    By the time I finished graduate school, reddit was dead so I never bothered getting verified on the Science subreddits. It was a bummer!
    
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- TowardsTheFuture@lemmy.zip ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  sounds like saying “we already have a lung in our body why make an iron lung.”
  
  Like I know obviously it’s not like plug this into your spine and cure paralysis but I could definitely be very useful.
  
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  - Neuromancer49@midwest.social ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Not quite, an iron lung replaces a dysfunctional organ. I’m saying we can already grow neurons onto circuits, and it’s difficult (not impossible) to implant neurons into a body. I don’t easily see how these bio-engineered neurons make those processed easier.
    
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  - null@lemmy.nullspace.lol ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    It’s more like saying, “we can already grow new lungs, why make an iron lung?”
    
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muntedcrocodile@hilariouschaos.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
That’s a huge step. We can do full neuron level scan of human brain and now we can make artificial neurons. All we need now is to combine that with some cloning and we have effectively invented immortality.

Not sure if its good enough for that yet. But huge step in that direction. Also the digitisation process does destroy you existing brain so might still be dieing depending on ur interpretation of star trek teleporters.

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echodot@feddit.uk ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
Good. There are certain people that need an injection of more neurones, perhaps there is hope for humanity yet.

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CatsGoMOW@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Hah, how cool is this?! I just started reading Dan Brown’s new book that is largely about this same thing.

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- Dirac@lemmy.today ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  What’s the book called, and is it a Langdon book?
  
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  - CatsGoMOW@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Yes, Langdon. The Secret of Secrets.
    
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- d3lta19@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I just finished it. Very interesting topic
  
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TuffNutzes@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Bio-neural gel packs.

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- dharmacurious@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I’ve seen this movie. Run, Tuvix! Run for your life!
  
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- PattyMcB@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Janeway called and wants more coffee
  
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MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Detail, that the author doesn’tt seem to know; neurons don’t work with a electrical charge, but with a cascade-reaction of ion pumps and -potentials. That’s why they’re sensitive to mechanic stimulus btw.

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- Neuromancer49@midwest.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I’ll be the pedant no one asked for - the sodium and potassium channels in the neuron respond to voltage changes in the membrane, so the author isn’t wrong.
  
  Action potentials are generated when dendritic (input) channels sense neurotransmitters like glutamate and GABA released by the axon terminal (output) of the pre-synapse cell. When these channels open, the let in ions like Calcium, Sodium, and Chloride.
  
  These ions change the electric potential across the cell membrane, once this passes a key threshold, the sodium channels in the rest of the cell open up.
  
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