Scientists create artificial brain cell from salt and water mix

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have engineered artificial neurological connections known as synapses using a simple solution of water and salt. This innovation could lead to the creation of sophisticated computers that emulate the human brain’s functions. The research, a collaborative effort between Utrecht University in the Netherlands and Sogang University in South Korea, utilizes materials—water and salt—that are also found in the human brain.

The findings were detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers aiming to build more energy-efficient and powerful computers often turn to the human brain for inspiration, noting its unique use of water and salt ions to conduct information. In contrast, modern computers typically use solid-state materials to perform similar tasks.

This study marks a significant step toward the goal of constructing an artificial human brain, potentially transforming future technologies.

Tim Kamsma, a theoretical physicist from Utrecht University, emphasized the importance of this research. He stated, “This is a crucial advancement toward computers that not only emulate the human brain’s communication patterns but also use the same substances for transmission.”

The key innovation, named the Iontronic memristor, encapsulates water and salt in a cone-shaped structure measuring 150 by 200 micrometres—about the width of three to four strands of human hair. This device memorizes the amount of electrical charge it has previously conducted. When electrical impulses are applied, they cause the ions to move through the cone-shaped channel, leading to variations in ion movement depending on the electrical charge.

Kamsma added, “While there are already artificial synapses made from solid materials capable of processing complex information, our research demonstrates for the first time that using water and salt can achieve similar capabilities, effectively replicating neuronal behavior with the same medium used by the brain.”