Scientists Create Real Cyborg

Last week, a team of UK scientists at the University of Reading announced they've created a robot that has biological brain tissue serving as its CPU. The team integrated cultured nerve cells and neurons from a rat's brain into the robot, which they've named Gordon.

The neurons are connected to Gordon via what scientists call a multi-electrode array, which allows electrical impulses to move from the brain matter to the robot, controlling the machine's movements. To keep the brain tissue alive, it's stored in a container in which temperature is kept constant.

In a university press release, Professor Kevin Warwick at the School of Systems Engineering said, "This new research is tremendously exciting as firstly the biological brain controls its own moving robot body, and secondly it will enable us to investigate how the brain learns and memorizes its experiences. This research will move our understanding forward of how brains work, and could have a profound effect on many areas of science and medicine."

The team hopes Gordon will shed new light on methods to combat diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.