Scientists Make Groundbreaking Discovery in Artificial Neuron Technology
In a major breakthrough, researchers at New York University (NYU) have successfully enabled artificial neurons to directly communicate with living cells for the first time. This achievement, published in various scientific journals, utilizes bacterial nanowires to create memristors that can operate at cellular voltages, opening up new possibilities in biotechnology and medicine.
According to multiple news sources, including IEEE Spectrum and BiomedicalSemiconductorsNews, this innovation could revolutionize our understanding of neural interfaces and potentially lead to novel treatments for neurological disorders. "This is a game-changer," said Jun Yao, the NYU researcher who led the study. "We've been working on developing artificial neurons that can communicate with living cells, and we're thrilled to have finally achieved this milestone."
The researchers used bacterial nanowires to build an artificial neuron, which was then connected to a living cell. The artificial neuron was able to send and receive signals from the living cell, demonstrating direct communication between the two. This breakthrough is significant because it paves the way for the development of more sophisticated neural interfaces that can be used in medical treatments.
The study's findings were published on October 13, 2025, in a paper titled "Artificial Neurons Communicate Directly with Living Cells." The researchers used bacterial nanowires to create memristors, which are devices that can store and process information. According to the study, these memristors were able to operate at cellular voltages, allowing them to communicate directly with living cells.
This achievement has significant implications for the field of biotechnology and medicine. "The potential applications of this technology are vast," said Dr. Shuai Fu, a researcher who worked on the study. "We could use it to develop new treatments for neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease."
The researchers are now working on scaling up their technology and exploring its potential applications in medical treatments. According to Yao, they plan to continue studying the properties of bacterial nanowires and developing more sophisticated neural interfaces.
In an interview with IEEE Spectrum, Yao emphasized the importance of this breakthrough: "This is a major step forward in our understanding of how artificial neurons can interact with living cells. We're excited to see where this technology takes us."
Background information on the researchers and their work:
Jun Yao is an assistant professor at NYU's Department of Biomedical Engineering. He has been working on developing artificial neurons that can communicate with living cells for several years.
Shuai Fu is a postdoctoral researcher in Yao's lab. He worked closely with Yao to develop the bacterial nanowires used in the study.
The researchers' work was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Current status:
The researchers are now working on scaling up their technology and exploring its potential applications in medical treatments. They plan to continue studying the properties of bacterial nanowires and developing more sophisticated neural interfaces.
Next steps:
The researchers hope to use their technology to develop new treatments for neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. They are also working on scaling up their technology to make it more practical for medical applications.
Quotes:
"This is a game-changer," said Jun Yao, the NYU researcher who led the study.
"The potential applications of this technology are vast," said Dr. Shuai Fu, a researcher who worked on the study.
"This is a major step forward in our understanding of how artificial neurons can interact with living cells," said Yao.
Sources:
IEEE Spectrum: "Artificial Neurons Communicate Directly with Living Cells"
BiomedicalSemiconductorsNews: "Scientists Make Groundbreaking Discovery in Artificial Neuron Technology"
Multi-source article: "Artificial Neurons Hook Up Directly with Living Cells in Breakthrough"
This story was compiled from reports by IEEE Spectrum and Multi-source: IEEE Spectrum.
