Nature Podcast This stretchy neural implant grows with an axolotl's brain
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Jun 11, 2025 Jia Liu, a Harvard researcher, discusses an innovative soft brain implant capable of growing with amphibian embryos, allowing for better monitoring of neural activity during development. This technology aims to enhance our understanding of brain function and potential treatments for neurological conditions. Alex Kashkin, a mechanical engineer from MIT, shares his revolutionary technique that combines AI with mechanical engineering to repair damaged paintings efficiently, promising quicker restoration while preserving artistic integrity.
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Soft Implants Solve Brain Damage
- Traditional brain implants are rigid and cause damage due to brain softness and movement.
- Soft, flexible implants prevent immune response and neuron degradation, allowing longer neural activity monitoring.
Stretchable Devices Grow With Brain
- Early brains develop from 2D sheets that fold into 3D structures.
- Implanting stretchable devices in the neural plate allows them to grow and spread throughout the brain as it develops.
Cyborg Tadpoles Show No Harm
- Jia Liu's team successfully implanted a stretchy mesh into frog embryos, which grew with their brains.
- The implanted frogs, called cyborg tadpoles, showed no developmental disruption or behavioral changes.