Flinders University scientists use biology from insects to build robots with a brain

Flinders University scientists use biology from insects to build robots with a brain

Scientists at a South Australian university are using biology from insects to build robots with a brain – technology that could become a game changer for police, defence and national security.

“I’m giving a robot a brain so it can understand its environment,” said Flinders University associate professor for autonomous systems, Dr Russell Brinkworth. 

His biologically-inspired robots have the ability to not just take a picture of the world, but interpret the surrounding environment and adapt accordingly.

“Our current robots work well in structured environments that don’t change. That sounds complex – but they’re all the same,” Dr Brinkworth

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Unwinding the world’s smallest biological rotary motor by degrees

Unwinding the world’s smallest biological rotary motor by degrees

Unwinding the world’s smallest biological rotary motor by degrees
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science reveal that multiple subunits of the ATPase complex act in harmony to achieve the stepwise catalysis of ATP hydrolysis. As the cleavage happens, the central shaft is pointing to 200°, which was substantiated in their study. Credit: Dr. Tomoko Masaike

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the energy currency of cells. It powers various cellular processes that require energy, including enzymatic reactions. ATP is synthesized with the help of an enzyme complex called F-type ATP synthase. This enzyme complex has a bidirectional functionality, working to synthesize ATP as well as hydrolyzing it, depending on environmental and cellular cues.

ATP synthase consists of two rotating motors—F1 and F0. The F1 subcomplex is mainly composed of α, β, and γ subunits. During the hydrolysis of ATP, the F1-ATPase show rotational motion. Therefore, F1-ATPase is also known as the world’s smallest

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Scientists just created mice with two biological fathers

Scientists just created mice with two biological fathers

Scientists just created mice with two biological fathers

Scientists have managed to create mice with two biological fathers, which could lead to implications for same-sex reproduction in the future.

Researchers at Kyushu University, in Japan, were able to create lab-grown egg cells by using the skin cells of male mice.

While creating mice with two biological fathers was technically possible prior to the achievement, it involved a series of elaborate steps, including genetic engineering.

After creating stem cells from eight-week-old male mice, scientists manipulated the genetic code of the cell to create a mature egg.

After successful cultivation, the eggs were fertilised and implanted into a surrogate mouse, which eventually resulted in the birth of seven mouse pups.

The breakthrough could revolutionise infertility treatments, as well as potentially create a new method of conception for same-sex couples.

Research director Katsuhiko Hayashi presented the

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New scientific breakthrough could pave the way for two men to have biological babies together

New scientific breakthrough could pave the way for two men to have biological babies together

New scientific breakthrough could pave the way for two men to have biological babies together
Posed by models (Photo: Shutterstock)

In a world first, scientists in Japan have created a baby mouse with two fathers. Instead of using an egg cell from a female, they were able to take a skin cell from one of the male mice and convert it into an egg. They then fertilized this with a sperm cell from the other male.

The research points toward the possibility of radical new treatments for infertile couples. It also suggests that someday in the future, a male couple could have a biological child together using a mixture of just their own DNA, and not a surrogate egg donor.

A surrogate would still need to carry the child.

“This is the first case of making robust mammal oocytes from male cells,” said Katsuhiko Hayashi, who led the work at Kyushu University in Japan.

Hayashi presented the results at the Third International Summit on Human

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AI Computers Powered by Human Brain Cells

AI Computers Powered by Human Brain Cells

Human Thinking Artificial Intelligence Concept

Researchers from John Hopkins University and Cortical Labs suggest that it’s time to create a new type of computer that uses biological components. They believe that biological computers could outperform electronic computers in certain applications and use significantly less electricity.

The future of computing includes biology says an international team of scientists.

The time has come to create a new kind of computer, say researchers from John Hopkins University together with Dr. Brett Kagan, chief scientist at Cortical Labs in Melbourne, who recently led development of the DishBrain project, in which human cells in a petri dish learned to play Pong.

In an article published on February 27 in the journal Frontiers in Science, the team outlines how biological computers could surpass today’s electronic computers for certain applications while using a small fraction of the electricity required by today’s computers and server farms.

Organoid intelligence (OI) is an emerging

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