All in Science & Nature
Brain Control Interfaces: What Are They?
Science fiction is littered with far-fetched characters like cyborgs, androids, terminators, daleks, and cybermen. These impossible creatures are a blending of man and machine in perfect harmony with things such as cybernetic arms and enhanced intelligence and strength. That future might be here sooner than you think, albeit minus the Hollywood exaggeration of mayhem and destruction (we hope). Brain control interfaces (BCIs) are defined as devices that, “acquire brain signals, analyze them, and translate them into commands that are relayed to output devices that carry out desired actions.” (1) Long story short, BCIs are the key piece of technology that helps man bind to machine. They act as the middleman between your brain and the machine you wish to control. Think of them as a translator. Your brain only speaks in neural impulses, and machines only understand binary. BCIs help convert your neural impulses into binary data and vice versa. These devices have been used for a variety of purposes, ranging from, “complex control of cursors, robotic arms, prostheses, wheelchairs, and other devices.” (1) In recent years, there have been amazing breakthroughs in the development of these BCIs.
Single-Cell Sequencing: The Power of One Cell
For just a moment, take a look at yourself. You are made up of anywhere from 1012 to 1016 cells [1]. Each one of them working together endlessly to help you breathe, read, eat, sleep, and walk. But if we take a closer look, and analyze a single cell, we find that there is a completely other story to tell. We like to think that all of our cells are the same, but that simply isn’t the case. Even within a single tissue, the cell population is heterogeneous, due in large part to the high mutation rate in DNA replication. Of course, that isn’t anything to be concerned about. Mutations occur throughout the body. On average, the human body creates 37 million mutations throughout all of its cells [4]. Some, such as silent mutations, are called silent because they have no effect on the body. Other mutations, which may not be silent, still do not necessarily pose an immediate threat. About 99% of the human genome is noncoding, which means our body has no use for it, so if there is a mutation there, it has no effect on us [2]. This is because there are several ways to code for the same protein in the body. Along with that, since most of the genome is non-coding, there is a higher chance of a mutation occurring in a section of the genetic code that humans don’t use. With that being said, the mutations and variations in the genetic code of a single cell can unlock a series of scientific answers about cell lineage and evolution.
Viewing the World Through Complex Adaptive Systems
Small differences can lead to large consequences or change outcomes. A popular example of this is that a butterfly could flap its wings in New York and the next day in Tokyo there will be rain instead of sunshine. This phenomenon is commonly known as the ‘Butterfly Effect’ and it highlights the relationship between minute conditions and ending outcomes within a system. Although interesting, the Butterfly Effect is only a piece in the puzzle of understanding our greater world. A larger piece to the puzzle, but by no means the complete picture, are Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). If the Butterfly Effect represents the relationship in a system, then a CAS is the system itself.
The Symbiosis Between Art and Science
The world seems intent on dividing things into art and science. This is apparent in the inaccurate notion that people are either left-brained or right-brained. Society possesses the characterization that a person can only be analytical or creative. A person will attempt to define herself as an “art person” or a “science person.” There is no in-between area presented in society, which gives rise to stereotypes of both fields.
The Numbers Behind the Universe
It is easy to observe the universe as a whole and decide it is rather chaotic. If nothing else, we have all at least vaguely heard about the entropy of the universe in pop culture. This idea stems from the fact that in thermodynamics, systems trend toward increases in entropy, or disorder. By that logic, the entire universe is eventually going to achieve its own maximum level of disorder, though it is hard to say exactly what that means. However, despite our general concerns about the logic of the universe, a surprisingly small amount of numbers forms the basis for phenomena occurring around us all the time. It would seem the universe has more order than we think.