Khaberni - In a frenzied race towards smarter and more efficient computing, engineers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) have achieved a stunning scientific breakthrough, potentially paving the way for a revolution in computer and bioelectronic interactions design. The team successfully developed an artificial neuronal cell that astonishingly mimics its living counterpart, and crucially, "speaks" the same simple, low-voltage language of the brain.
This innovation, published in the journal Nature Communications, is based on an unexpected foundation: protein nanowires derived from electricity-producing bacteria known as Geobacter sulfurreducens.
20 Watts versus Megawatts
Shuai Fu, the lead author of the study, explains that the human brain processes vast amounts of data but only consumes about 20 watts of power to perform complex tasks like writing a story. In contrast, large-scale artificial intelligence models, like ChatGPT, consume energy that can reach megawatts (1000 times more) to perform the same activity!
This vast difference in efficiency was the biggest challenge in engineering the artificial neuronal cells. John Yao, the associate professor and primary author of the study, says, "Previous versions of artificial neuronal cells used ten times more electrical voltage and a hundred times more energy than those we have developed."
The secret lies in the low voltage, as the human brain operates at only 0.1 volts. Previous artificial neuronal cells could not match this voltage, which prevented them from direct and safe communication with living neuronal cells.
Protein Wires
The key to achieving this very low voltage lies in using protein nanowires produced by Geobacter sulfurreducens bacteria. These wires, known for their superior electricity production, allowed scientists to design an artificial neuronal cell that operates at the same voltage as the brain, solving the main issue of energy efficiency.
The prospects of this innovation are vast, including redesigning computers based on principles inspired by biology, to massively reduce their energy consumption. With biological sensors that can directly communicate with our bodies. For example, sensors based on these neuronal cells can read the body's electrical signals without the need for intermediary electrical amplification, which consumes energy and complicates the circuit.
This achievement confirms that the future may not be in building bigger and more powerful machines, but in mimicking the simplicity and efficiency of older and more evolved biological systems. Thanks to simple bacteria, scientists are one step closer to building electronic devices that seamlessly integrate with life itself.
