New Scientist 28Mar2020

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Brain cellstumed

Atpmsent, electrical implants, animal and human c::ells in a dish,

such as those used for beating thenwithminiatwehuman

into cyborg tissue Parldnton's disease, often use bnin-Uke Strw:tumi in the Jab and

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metal electrodes pushed into the finally in living nematode worms,

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NERVE cells in living animals brain. One of the disadvantages is which were llOllkedinmonomen.

have been genetically modified thattheaisnowaytousethaeto 1he researchers showed that

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to produce conducting polymers control the activity of particular targeted nerve cells become

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ontheirs~s.givingthml types of neuron. coated in a polymer of choice, and

new electrital p10perties. Bao and her team genetically that this alters the behaviour of

(^9) The work, which could enable modified specific cell types to the cells as expected. For instance,
I us to electrically control specific makeanenzymeontheirsurface targeting the neurons that control
groupsofcells,mayleadtonew that joins small molecules, known movementinnematodewonns
An electric ride treatments for epilepsy and as monomers, to make a chain. madethemJessllkelyto move
really Is better better ways of connecting The resulting polymer can be an forwud, ormorelikelytomake
p10stbeticllmbs to nerves, e1ectrical conductor or insulator, sharp turns, depencling on the
Elldrlcarsnawhava• says Zh.enan Bao at Stanibnl depending on the molecules used type of polymer (Science,
mlllllrdl ...... cMnllt Uni.wrsity in califomia. The team did this first with doi.org/dp64). MicbllellePlge
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whanlpowerlrlds....,.., ULTRASOUNDheadscanscouldbe
IOl"fuUJl'lftlWlble used to quickly diagnose strokes.
(NDfurW SUSfalnolJllfly, Ultrasound produces pictures
DOI: 10.10381941893· of a body's insides by transmitting
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at Imperial College London and
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the skull. But the new technique
Mardi havemaretmn overcomes this by pairing the
daubled llsllltghtneu, reoonllngs with an algorithm that
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