How human brain cells could drive a supercomputing revolution

How can human brain cells lead the supercomputing revolution?

Biocomputing is a field of cutting-edge technology that works by integrating biology with engineering and computer science, using cells or their sub-molecules (such as DNA or RNA); To perform traditional functions performed by a computer.

According to Johns Hopkins University researchers, a “biocomputer” that works using cells extracted fromthe human brain can be developed within the coming decades. Researchers also expect that this revolutionary technology will significantly increase computational capabilities, in addition to creating new fields of study and innovation.

In this context, Thomas Hartung, a professor of environmental health sciences at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Whiting School of Engineering, who is leading this research project, said: “Computing and artificial intelligence are driving our current technological revolution, but we often stand helpless in the face of the limits of these two technologies. Therefore, biological computing is a promising path in increasing computational power, allowing it to exceed the limits of current technology.”

A promising future solution

For nearly two decades, scientists have used microorganoids, tissues grown in the laboratory to resemble fully-developed organs; To conduct experiments on kidneys, lungs, and some other organs using these tissues, without the need for human or animal tests.

More recently, Hartung and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins University worked on brain organelles, very small orbits of nerve cells that can maintain the performance of some basic functions such as learning and remembering, which opens the door to research on how the human brain works, as these organelles and neurons can be used to perform many experiments that are ethically impossible to try on humans.

Hartung began in 2012 to grow and assemble brain cells into precise, functional organelles, using cells from human skin samples that had been reprogrammed to resemble embryonic stem cells, with each organelle containing about 50,000 cells, a size similar to the size of the nervous system in a fruit fly. These organelles are now envisioned as a promising future option in building future computers.

Regarding the advantages of this revolutionary technology, Hartung says: “Computers that operate using this vital power can be seen in practice starting in the next decade, and they will play a major role in alleviating the requirements of large energy consumption in giant computing operations and units, such as data centers, servers, and other computing units that have become increasingly unsustainable.”

Superpowers of brain cells

What’s interesting here is that although today’s computers process calculations involving numbers and data much faster than the human brain, human brains are smarter at making complex logical decisions.

In response, Hartung said: “No matter what we see of modern computers, the human brain is still unique. For example, “Frontier” is the latest supercomputer built in Kentucky at a cost of $600 million and covering an area of ​​6,800 square feet. This supercomputer was able in June of last year – for the first time – to exceed the computational capabilities of a single human brain, but to achieve this it used a million times more energy than the human brain.”

It may take decades before “biological intelligence” can operate an intelligent system, or even before it can operate a simple system, but by increasing the production of brain organoids and training them with artificial intelligence, it will be possible in the future for biological computers to support high-speed computing, powerful data processing, and huge storage capabilities.

On the other hand, Lena Smirnova, assistant professor of health and environmental engineering at Johns Hopkins University, who is co-leading the research, said: “Biological intelligence could also revolutionize drug testing research related to developmental and neurodegenerative disorders, by comparing brain organoids from healthy donors with brain organoids from donors with autism, and through the tools we are developing toward biocomputing, we will be able to understand changes in networks.” Neurological disorders for autistic patients, without the need for experiments on humans or animals.”

To evaluate the ethical implications of working with biointelligence, a diverse group of scientists, bioethicists, and members of the general public were included in the task force; In order to cover non-technical aspects of biocomputing.