biocompatibility tagged posts

Graphene Synapses Advance Brain-like Computers

Graphene synapses advance brain-like computers
Credit: University of Texas at Austin

Computers that think more like human brains are inching closer to mainstream adoption. What types of materials can serve as the best building blocks to unlock the potential of this new style of computing? For most traditional computing devices, silicon remains the gold standard. However, there is a movement to use more flexible, efficient and environmentally friendly materials for these brain-like devices.

In a new paper, researchers from The University of Texas at Austin developed synaptic transistors for brain-like computers using the thin, flexible material graphene. These transistors are similar to synapses in the brain, that connect neurons to each other.

“Computers that think like brains can do so much more than today’s devices,” said J...

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Bone Growth Inspired ‘Microrobots’ that can Create their own Bone

When voltage is applied, the material (left) will slowly bend towards the chicken bone (white). If the liquid contains the minerals needed for bone development, the material will, in the space of a few days, begin to build artificial bone that attaches itself to the chicken bone. Olov Planthaber

Inspired by the growth of bones in the skeleton, researchers at the universities of Linköping in Sweden and Okayama in Japan have developed a combination of materials that can morph into various shapes before hardening. The material is initially soft, but later hardens through a bone development process that uses the same materials found in the skeleton.

When we are born, we have gaps in our skulls that are covered by pieces of soft connective tissue called fontanelles...

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