Anyone who has taken even a passing glance at science fiction should now what a cyborg is by now. It's been a very popular idea for some time, but for the most part it's been confined to space of fiction.
Well, clearly no told themad scientists over at Harvard about that little tidbit.
NewScientist
The team of researchers was not able to create their own Jean Claude Van Damme (not yet, anyway). However, by mixing circuity into these organic cells, the scientists were able to discover some tantalizing information about how they function. In the future, they hope to use this technology for testing drugs on human tissue or to monitor for health issues.
For those interested in the actual science behind the research (without reading the article), allow me to direct you to this link.
Of course, that's just what they're telling us. Hey Harvard, if you're looking for volunteers to become part of an army of augmented supermen, just ignore my transcript; I'm totally a Poly-Sci-Borg major.
Well, clearly no told the
They beat like real heart cells, but the rat cardiomyocytes in a dish at Harvard University are different in one crucial way. Snaking through them are wires and transistors that spy on each cell's electrical impulses. In future, the wires might control their behaviour too.
Versions of this souped-up, "cyborg" tissue have been created for neurons, muscle and blood vessels. They could be used to test drugsor as the basis for more biological versions of existing implants such as pacemakers. If signals can also be sent to the cells, cyborg tissue could be used in prosthetics or to create tiny robots.
"It allows one to effectively blur the boundary between electronic, inorganic systems and organic, biological ones," says Charles Lieber, who leads the team behind the cyborg tissue.
The team of researchers was not able to create their own Jean Claude Van Damme (not yet, anyway). However, by mixing circuity into these organic cells, the scientists were able to discover some tantalizing information about how they function. In the future, they hope to use this technology for testing drugs on human tissue or to monitor for health issues.
For those interested in the actual science behind the research (without reading the article), allow me to direct you to this link.
Of course, that's just what they're telling us. Hey Harvard, if you're looking for volunteers to become part of an army of augmented supermen, just ignore my transcript; I'm totally a Poly-Sci-Borg major.
