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This stretchy neural implant grows with an axolotl's brain

2025/6/11

Nature Podcast

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People

Alex Kashkin

Benjamin Thompson

Dan Fox

Flavia Vitale

Jia Liu

Jie Liu

Nick Petrichel

Topics

Jie Liu: 大脑非常柔软，像豆腐一样，而传统电子设备坚硬，植入后大脑的任何移动都可能导致电子设备切割大脑，引发免疫反应，导致神经元退化。因此，开发柔软的、可随大脑移动的植入物至关重要，以减少机械损伤和免疫反应。 Jia Liu: 我认为关键在于利用早期大脑的二维特性，将小型可拉伸设备放置在细胞片上，随着大脑发育，设备会被包裹并分布到整个大脑中。通过这种方式，我们可以稳定记录胚胎大脑中的神经活动。我对蝾螈的再生能力特别感兴趣，发现刺激大脑可以加速其再生。这表明大脑在再生过程中起着重要作用。 Flavia Vitale: 我对这种新设备的潜在应用感到兴奋，它为研究再生、可塑性甚至衰老提供了机会。这项研究非常严谨，从基础工程原理到工程可以与生物组织接触生长和变形的新材料。然而，在将这种设备用于人类之前，我们需要认真考虑伦理影响，例如是否会扰乱或干扰胚胎的发育。

Deep Dive

Chapters

Researchers have developed a flexible neural implant that grows with the brain, enabling long-term monitoring of neural activity in amphibian embryos. This innovative approach addresses challenges posed by traditional rigid implants and opens doors for studying brain development and regeneration, potentially leading to treatments for neurological conditions. Ethical considerations regarding embryo manipulation are highlighted.

Development of a soft, stretchable brain implant for amphibian embryos.
Long-term monitoring of neural activity during brain development.
Successful testing in frog and axolotl embryos.
Potential applications in treating neurological conditions in humans.
Ethical implications of manipulating embryos discussed.

Shownotes Transcript

00:45 A flexible neural-implant that grows with the brain

Researchers have developed a soft electronic implant that can measure brain activity of amphibian embryos as they develop. Understanding the neural activity of developing brains is a key aim for neuroscientists, but conventional, rigid probes can damage growing brains. To overcome this, a team have developed a flexible mesh that stretches with the brain and tested it by monitoring single neuron activity during development of frog and axolotl embryos. More testing and ethical considerations will be required, but the researchers hope that eventually such implants could help with neurological conditions that affect humans.

Research article: Sheng et al.)

13:11 Research Highlights

The exoplanet slowly evaporating into space, and cockatoos that have figured out an innovative way to stay hydrated.

Research Highlight: Solved: the mystery of the evaporating planet)

Research Highlight: Clever cockatoos learn an easy way to quench their thirst)

15:30 An AI-based way to repair damaged paintings

By combining AI tools with mechanical engineering techniques, a researcher has developed a new way to speed up the restoration of damaged paintings. The technique creates a removable mask that can be overlaid onto a painting to cover any damage apparent in the artwork. It was successfully tested on an oil painting, fixing a large number of damaged areas in only a few hours. This could offer a significant speed-boost to painting restoration, which can often take months, or even years.

Research article: Kachkine)

Video: Meet the engineer who invented an AI-powered way to restore art)

27:36 Briefing Chat

A new ranking system could make it easier to spot universities that are chasing publishing metrics at the expense of rigorous science, and evidence that cutting off rhinos’ horns deters poachers.

Nature: ‘Integrity index’ flags universities with high retraction rates)

AP: Cutting off rhinos’ horns is a contentious last resort to stop poaching. A new study found it works)

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