Listening to the news can be overwhelming – rising numbers of COVID-19 infection, death tolls, businesses tanking . . .  Often buried are the incredible advances being made in many fields.  This one caught our eye because of the wonderful possibilities

Breakthrough new research became available on April 20, 2020 discussing how neuroscientists created artificial neurons from protein strands to behave like live ones.

“Neurons are the nerve cells and nerve fibers that are electrically excitable cells in the nervous system that function to process and transmit information. In vertebrate animals, neurons are the core components of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.”

“This advance could mean it would be possible to use artificial neurons and fuse them with live ones in the future, allowing science to easily treat spinal cord injuries and paralyzed people. Progress in artificial intelligence could also lead to energy efficient machines powered by AI in the future.”

“There is previous work that was published in March connecting live cells with artificial ones. The Internet aided in the creation of a virtual brain using actual live nerve cells. This breakthrough and novel project was created with collaboration from Italian, Swiss and British scientists. The artificial neurons came from Switzerland, electronic interneuron connection from the UK and the live nerve cells from Italy. All these were amalgamated into one functioning system. It means that a live nervous system can be collaborated with the technology into one.”

“The neural networks will be controlled via a regular laptop and can be used, in specially designed devices tailored to the patients and their needs, to compensate for the non functioning live neurons. It is highly plausible artificial neurons will be manufactured for wide use in neurological cases.”