Scientists have made a significant breakthrough by developing artificial neurological junctions, known as synapses, using a mixture of water and salt. This discovery paves the way for the advancement of computers that can perform like a human brain. A team of researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and Sogang University in South Korea created these artificial brain cells using ingredients similar to those used by the brain. The results of this study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The human brain is often used as inspiration when scientists are trying to create energy-efficient and high-performance computers. Unlike current advanced computer systems that rely on solid materials, human brains use water and salt particles called ions as their medium. This study could lead to significant progress in creating an artificial human brain.
The device created by scientists is called an Iontronic memristor, which carries water and salt inside. It is a cone-shaped device that is just 150 by 200 micrometers wide. This device remembers the amount of electrical charge that has passed through it. Electrical impulses cause ions to move through the cone-shaped channel, with variations in electrical charge leading to differences in ion movement.
Theoretical physicist Tim Kamsma from Utrecht University believes that this advancement is critical in creating computers that can mimic the communication patterns of the human brain using the same medium. This study demonstrates that complex information processing can be achieved using water and salt, replicating neuronal behavior using a system that employs the same medium as the brain.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking discovery opens up new possibilities for computer technology and could lead to significant advancements in fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics. With further research and development, we may soon see computers that can think and process information like a human brain.
