Semiconductor Brain: Nerve Tissue Interfaced With A Computer Chip

Scientists at the Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry have developed a "revolutionary non-invasive technique" that enables them to record neural communication between thousands of nerve cells in the tissue of a brain slice with high spatial resolution. This technique involves culturing razor-thin slices of the hippocampus region on semiconductor chips, using 16384 transistors on an area of one square millimeter to record the neural activity in the brain.

Site – http://www.biochem.mpg.de

Brain Chips

We react naturally to the signals our brains send out to our bodies. Science has long been able to listen into the signals the brain sends, but is just now learning to turn those signals into meaningful action. The result is restoring movement and speech to the disabled.

Site – http://www.cnn.com

Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance

This book describes the vast opportunity created by unifying science and integrating technology, and recommends transforming ideas for individuals and society. Text is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and describes the vast opportunity of unifying science and integrating technology for improving work efficiency, learning, and revolutionary changes in health care. Discusses science and technology with emphasis on the human factor, ethical issues, and societal needs. For researchers and practitioners.

Site – http://www.wtec.org

What now for biotechnology?

To celebrate 30 years of the biotechnology industry, analysts Ernst & Young asked five leaders from academia, industry and government to forecast the sector's future. Three of the five predict that solving health and nutrition problems in the developing world will create an opportunity for investment and jobs To feed the world's growing population, agriculture over the next 20 years will have to double its production from the same amount of land, says Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, the 'father' of the green revolution. Two approaches can help, he says: continue to work on 'producer-oriented' traits, such as tolerance to temperatures and drought, and do more work to genetically modify plants to improve their nutritional and health benefits.

Site – http://www.nature.com