Researchers Grow Tiny Human Brain Organoids to Operate Machines

It may have its roots in speculative fiction, but a handful of researchers are achieving significant advances working to develop computers out of biological material.

Welcome to the unconventional world of biocomputing.

The Vision of Living Computers

In the future, scientists anticipate we could see computing facilities full of biological processors which emulate particular characteristics of how machine learning processes information - and could consume significantly less of the electricity of existing technologies.

Most people are familiar with the concepts of equipment and applications in the computers we typically utilize.

The rather unconventional phrase applied to describe what scientists are developing is "organic hardware".

Basically, it entails developing brain cells which are developed into clusters called organoids, which in turn can be attached to electrical contacts - at which point the method of attempting to utilize them like mini-computers can begin.

The Approach

For many individuals, the very concept of organic processing is likely a bit weird.

"Throughout speculative fiction, individuals have encountered these ideas for quite a long time," he noted.

The method commences using biological building blocks obtained from skin tissue, which they buy from approved sources. The biological contributors are anonymous.

However, unexpectedly, they're not short of volunteers.

In the research facility, cellular biologists cultivate various miniature white orbs.

Each miniature structure is basically a tiny, scientifically-developed brain organoid, made out of biological material which have been cultured to become groups of neurons and structural components - these constitute the “organoids”.

They don't approach the sophistication of a fully developed brain, but they contain the identical components.

Testing and Reaction

Subsequent to a procedure which can require extended periods, the biological structures are ready to be attached to an electrical interface and then stimulated to react to basic input signals.

This is a means for electrical signals to be dispatched and recorded, with the findings stored through a standard computer connected to the system.

This represents a basic experiment: you activate a button which sends an electrical impulse through the interfaces, and if it works (it may not regularly) you can partially detect a little jump of biological reaction on a screen in reaction.

Electrical stimulations are crucial initial phases towards the researchers' primary objective of stimulating development in the biological system's cells so they can ultimately adjust to execute functions.

Sustaining Biocomputers Alive

Maintaining an standard device operational is straightforward - it just needs a power supply - but what occurs regarding biological systems?

It's a question experts continue to investigate.

"Biological structures don't have blood vessels," said a neuroscience expert.

"Our brains has vascular networks that spread through it at multiple scales and provide nutrients to keep it working well.

"Researchers continue to study how to develop them successfully. So this is the primary current obstacle."

One thing is for sure though. When we mention a computer dying, with biological computing that is exactly what happens.

Substantial developments has been accomplished in recent years: its organoids can now remain viable for up to multiple weeks.

Yet, scientists have documented some strange phenomena related to their eventual demise.

Periodically scientists detect a flurry of activity from the organoids prior to expiration – resembling the accelerated cardiac activity and neural response which has been observed in particular people at terminal stages.

Practical Uses

Multiple research groups are working in the organic processing arena.

One organization announced that it had managed to get biological cells to play the historical digital entertainment Pong.

At different institutions, researchers are also creating brain organoids to examine their computational capabilities – but in the framework of pharmaceutical research for brain disorders like Alzheimer's and autism.

The expectation is that machine learning will in the future be able to significantly enhance this kind of work.

Yet, presently, many believe organic processing is scientifically exciting - but preliminary.

Experts explained there is small chance of it substituting for the main material presently employed in computer chips.

"Biocomputing should complement – not replace – traditional processing, while also improving medical research and reducing animal use," she noted.

Even as the tech comes ever closer to practical implementations, numerous experts remain captivated by its science fiction roots.

"I remain a fan of speculative fiction," he explained.

"When you have a movie of science fiction, or a book, I always felt a bit sad because my life was not like in the book. Now I feel like I'm part of the story, creating the future."