University of Calgary succeeds in building a neurochip out of silicon, human brain cells
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted August 10th 2010 7:43PM
posted August 10th 2010 7:43PM
Scientists at the University of Calgary have teamed up with the National Research Council Canada to put a network of human brain cells on a microchip -- in effect creating a (tiny) brain on a chip. Until now, when scientists wanted to monitor brain cells, they could only monitor one or two simultaneously, but with this new neurochip, large groups of cells can be placed on the chip and observed in detail, as they go about their business "networking and performing automatic, large-scale drug screening for various brain dysfunctions," according to PhysOrg. But that's just the beginning! This sort of advance could someday lead to neurochip implants for driving artificial limbs, treatments for strokes and brain trauma, and more. The Globe and Mail even mentions the possibility that living neurons could be combined with silicon circuits to create an "organic computer." From that point it's only a matter of time before you're jacking into cyberspace with your Dixie Flatline ROM.
This totally just blew MY MIND.
@Joseph9307 Stack overflow? What happens when we do this to one of these chips...
@Nathan V You become the Terminator
@Joseph9307 This can help making cyborgs.
@Nathan V
I just had a buffer overflow...
@Joseph9307 I hope Apple doesnt buy the rights to this...
@Joseph9307
The CIA is uploading thoughts into your brain.
@nutjob Not the CIA, CSIS.
@nutjob
Inception is possible.
@Jukah Imagine having a segfault happen in your brain...
@Bob the Terrorist Egads, I can see all sorts of unusual and strange happenings with that.
"Oops, one sec, kernel panic in my encephelon". (*enter random behavior here*)
@Jukah
But the rate of growth can not be monitored or controlled... Heed caution...
@statickeith Oh yes, finally! I'll take Cyborgs over the uneducated conservative rednecks that make up much of Calgary (and yes I live in Calgary).
@Joseph9307 You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
@timriley Socialism can not work as long as the human race is selfish and lazy.
Ill be back.
Getting closer to the Ghost in Shell era eh?
Next up, Fuchikomas! (Fuchikoma-tachi? Fuchikomaazu? Ta-n-chi-koma... Tachikoma-koh! Heck, I dunno....)
I, for one, welcome our cute, robotic, vaguely arachnoid sidekicks/armored tanks.
SKYNET!
This is starting to get a little bit scary...
Props for the Gibson reference.
Sadly, they knew it was only a prototype when the first thing it registered was "Go Habs!"
@GuyWithDogs
Strange, it being in Calgary and all...
implant an i7 in my brain..So i can think faster..Then overheat.. (-_-")
@syahmi3397
Actually, it would be more like the other way around. Implant your brain into your Core i7 and process information way, way more efficiently. Of course the issue would be figuring out some sort of interface between binary and the way brain cells process information.
@paul34 whoa..where did u learn to write that smart...haha..just kidding... =p
@paul34 That's a silly thing to do since the Human brain processes more information a second than the top 500 supercomputers--combined.
@Jonathan Dumaine i learned about central nervous system in my 1st n 2nd year of med school..yup2..very complex but interesting... XD
500 supercomp combined? haha.. god's engineering skills are unbelievable... =P
@Jonathan Dumaine
that could change in 15-20 years
@syahmi3397 Either that, or millions of years of evolution.
@paul34
Actually, I think every CPU in the world has someone's brain already implanted in it. We just don't know it yet. Tada!
segfaults in the brain. ouch.
@benger
http://xkcd.com/371/
@James T Kirk
Damn, you beat me to it. That's what I was thinking...
As long as the chips don't outsmart us and enslave all humans
Just remember that when you jack into cyberspace, cyberspace jacks into YOU.
@Samurai Jack ahh... if only you said "In Soviet Russia"...
@Samurai Jack
all I want is as least one shower as a 18 year old girl during my lifetime.
Does engadget have something against using the word "and" in their articles' titles?
the Neuromancer screenshot is a nice touch.
@Mr M And I thought *I* was the only one!
So this is what it feels like, when doves cry.
The future is coming!
Someone call The governator
So now, when the robot uprising comes, all they have to do is hack into us and we become their slaves.
@LegoGuy23 If you haven't read Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" (and it's sequels) go do so now. Oh, and I'd stay away from all crucifixes if I were you...
Ok, but i'll never DEFRAG or SCANDISK anything. Definitely boring -.-''
I approve of this for two reasons:
1) I attend the U of C, and it's nice to see them do something awesome like this.
2) The references to Neuromancer.
@floobie
Also attended U of C, cool to see it featured here!
@floobie I attend the U of A.
T.T
i, for one, welcome our fleshborn, cybernetically enhanced overlords