Un equipo de investigadores de la Universidad de Washington en Missouri est\u00e1 intentando convertir langostas en cyborgs. Por ahora, este enfoque s\u00f3lo funciona en entornos de laboratorio cerrados y no en escenarios del mundo real. Sin embargo se prev\u00e9 que alg\u00fan d\u00eda conducir\u00e1 a la creaci\u00f3n de peque\u00f1os enjambres de langostas mejoradas\u00a0 que podr\u00e1n detectar problemas m\u00e9dicos, ayudar en misiones de b\u00fasqueda y rescate o localizar explosivos.<\/p>\n
A team of researchers from Washington University in Missouri is attempting to turn locusts into cyborgs.<\/p>\n
To accomplish this, the team, attempting to leverage locusts\u2019 sense of smell by recording the signals of electrodes attached to their brains, injected infrared-sensitive nanoparticles into the locusts\u2019 brains.<\/p>\n
\u201cApproaches to read-out information from biological systems, especially neural signals, tend to be suboptimal due to the number of electrodes that can be used and where these can be placed,\u201d the researchers explained. \u201cBy harnessing the photothermal properties of nanostructures\u2026we show that the odor-evoked response from the interrogated regions of the insect olfactory system can not only be enhanced but can also improve odor identification.\u201d<\/p>\n
The researchers noted that additives, which are composed of a silicon shell-encased protein core, were initially injected with octopamine \u2014 a neurotransmitter that is related to an insect\u2019s \u201cfight or flight\u201d instinct. The team determined that when the nanoparticles were exposed to infrared laser light, they emitted chemicals that increased brain activity associated with a locust\u2019s olfactory senses \u2014 thus making it easier for scientists to locate that specific neural activity, and employ the electrodes to identify chemicals in a lab test.<\/p>\n
For now, this approach only works in closed laboratory settings and not in real-world scenarios. However, the researchers envision that one day it will lead to the creation of small swarms of cyborg-enhanced locusts that can detect medical issues in humans, assist in search and rescue missions, or locate explosives or environmental contaminants.<\/p>\n
The research appears in the article, “Augmenting insect olfaction performance through nano-neuromodulation,” which appears in the journal\u00a0Nature Nanomaterials<\/a>.<\/p>\n