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.
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.
dipdowel@feddit.nl 5 months ago
Is it naive to assume that this could potentially simplify building brain-computer interfaces? Or at least make them safer?
crimsonpoodle@pawb.social 5 months ago
Maybe. If you’re talking about the invasive forms of BCI (ie not EEG) then it could be better. Biocompatibility is difficult, the article doesn’t go super in depth, but assuming they don’t get attacked by the immune system then maybe. But you still have to implant them by opening up the skull so there is that.