For decades now, our lives have been centered around computers built with silicon chips, wires, and metal circuits. These machines have powered everything from smartphones to space missions. But what if the next big leap in computing isn’t made of metal at all, but of living cells? It may sound like science fiction, but researchers are getting closer to making that a reality.As the demand for faster, smarter, and more energy-efficient computing continues to rise, especially with the growth of artificial intelligence, scientists are looking for some radical alternatives. And among these, one promising path is biocomputing, where biology meets technology. Instead of completely depending on electricity and microchips, biocomputers use living cells and their natural ability to process information!
A computer made of living cells!
A team of scientists at Rice University in Texas is working on something truly futuristic by building powerful computers using living bacterial cells instead of silicon. With a $1.99 million grant from the National Science Foundation, this four-year project could completely change what we think of as a “computer.”
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Bacterial cells will be used as mini processors
According to Professor Matthew Bennett, who leads the project, the idea is to treat each bacterial cell as a tiny processor. “Microbes are remarkable information processors, and we want to understand how to connect them into networks that behave intelligently,” Bennett told Rice University News.By linking these cells together, the researchers hope to create a biological computing network. “By integrating biology with electronics, we hope to create a new class of computing platforms that can adapt, learn, and respond to their environments,” Bennett added.
These computers can be energy efficient!
This approach falls under the growing field of biocomputing, where scientists use living systems, including microbes and lab-grown brain cells, to perform computing tasks. Traditional computers are incredibly power-hungry, especially when running AI systems. Biocomputers, on the other hand, offer a way to perform complex operations using much less energy.Rice University focuses on microbes, which naturally communicate using chemical and electrical signals, and are perfect for forming interconnected systems.The team plans to use special systems called continuous culture systems to keep the microbes alive and healthy. These tiny living cells will then be connected to electronic circuits, allowing them to learn and recognize patterns over time, just like a simple brain.This approach could be a big step for real-life uses like medical tests, pollution checks, and smart sensors.
The interesting idea behind this is to create living biosensors as tiny, living detectors that can spot signs of disease or harmful chemicals in the environment. Once they detect something, they can send electronic alerts, making it much faster and more accurate than regular machines.These living computers could help us stay healthier and protect the environment all by combining nature and technology.“Beyond diagnostics and monitoring, living computers may one day adapt and evolve in ways that surpass the capabilities of traditional machines,” Bennett said.The project also includes a focus on ethics and public understanding. Researchers will examine how society might regulate these technologies and how the public might respond to programmable living systems.