Sunday Special: Chickpeas on the Moon

Welcome back, Superhuman. Scientists have taught a petri dish full of lab-grown brain cells to play an iconic video game from 1993, in what they claim is the “world’s first code deployable biological computer.” Footage of the neurons mastering the interface is now blowing up online. In other news, researchers have successfully grown the first crop in simulated Moon soil — a major breakthrough in space agriculture.

SCIENCE SUNDAY

The most interesting scientific and technological breakthroughs this week

1. Lab-grown human brain cells learn to play video game on microchip: Biotech firm Cortical Labs has programmed living neurons to play the 1993 video game Doom. Scientists turned game visuals into electrical signals, helping the cells navigate the game interface and target enemies in real-time. The experiment is a landmark in programmable biology, potentially paving the way towards biological processors that could power robotic limbs and hybrid computers. Watch the neurons play the video game here.

2. Scientists grow chickpeas in Moon soil for the first time: Scientists at UT Austin and Texas A&M have grown and harvested chickpeas in simulated lunar soil in a first for space agriculture. Moon dirt is notoriously hostile: it has no organic matter and is loaded with toxic heavy metals. The team found that mixtures of up to 75% lunar soil could yield a harvestable crop. However, scientists still need to confirm that the chickpeas are safe to eat and nutritionally viable for long-duration Artemis missions.

3. Earth's asteroid defense just got a major upgrade: When NASA's DART spacecraft slammed into asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, it shortened its orbit by 32 minutes. Now, new research has revealed it may have done a lot more. Scientists have confirmed that DART also nudged the asteroid pair's trajectory around the sun — a first-ever measurement. The shift was tiny, but it doubled the deflection effect. It's the most compelling evidence yet that humanity could potentially redirect a killer asteroid before it reaches Earth.

4. US startup nails flight test of a drone built for hypersonic speeds: Atlanta-based Hermeus has successfully flown its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 prototype drone, kicking off a test campaign aimed at breaking the sound barrier. If subsonic tests go smoothly, engineers will push the next iteration of the drone toward supersonic flight, potentially paving the way to Darkhorse, a reusable hypersonic aircraft built for defense missions. Watch the groundbreaking test flight here.

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NEW TECH

Our favorite new tech gadgets this week

1. Formovie Theater Premium TV: With a screen size of almost 150 inches, this smart projector can turn almost any space into a home theatre.

2. Kamingo: A compact smart converter that turns your regular bike into an e-bike in less than 10 seconds.

3. Autonomous Stand: A clip-on smart device that tracks, reminds, and rewards you with tokens to encourage you to use your standing desk.

4. Hyperice Normatec Elite Hips: An air compression system that targets the hips, glutes, and lower back to boost circulation, relieve soreness, and push for quick recovery.

SOCIAL SIGNALS

What’s trending in science & tech on socials this week

☀️ Where’d the Sun Go? Social media users were left scrambling for answers when the Sun suddenly went dark, as picked up by stunning footage from the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Turns out there was a simple explanation for the strange occurence, with major consequences.

🫀 First Flutter: Click here to see the surreal moment when a zebrafish embryo’s heart begins beating for the first time, showing scattered flashes to synchronized waves.

⚛️ Particle Proof: Everyone thinks they know what an atom looks like. Now, scientists have unveiled what they claim is the 'most accurate image' of an atom, and it’s got social media buzzing.

🧬 Gene Snip: Unreal footage shows Dutch scientists using CRISPR to successfully cut HIV DNA out of infected immune cells in the lab, in what many claim could possibly be a promising step toward a potential cure for HIV.

🌌 Pluto Peaks: After a nine-year journey spanning nearly 3 billion miles, scientists finally managed to capture this stunning view of Pluto’s towering icy mountains.

🏎️ Virtual Vroom: The future of spectator sports is already here. A short demo shows an F1 race running on Apple Vision Pro, projecting holographic race feeds, track maps, and driver cameras into a living room for an immersive experience.

ONLY GOOD NEWS

A healthy dose of optimism to kickstart your week

Liver Lifeline: MIT engineers claim to have developed tiny clusters of liver cells embedded in hydrogel microspheres that, once injected, integrate with the body's blood supply and mimic real liver function. In mouse trials, the grafts remained viable for two months, generating many of the enzymes and proteins produced by natural livers. For thousands of Americans waiting on a donor organ, this could potentially mean a bridge to transplant, or even a permanent alternative to surgery.

Quake Proof: A UAE-based engineer may have cracked earthquake-proofing. Developed at the University of Sharjah, the energy dissipation device uses friction from branch-like rods moving through ball bearings to absorb seismic vibrations without using up any electricity. It absorbed 14% of vibration energy in lab trials and can possibly be retrofitted into existing buildings. For regions that are prone to earthquakes and don’t have access to expensive seismic engineering, this could potentially be a game-changer.

Bone Blueprint: Swedish researchers claim to have engineered an "off-the-shelf" solution to trick the body into regrowing bones. They’ve created a cell-free cartilage scaffold that reportedly preserves the natural growth signals needed to trigger bone regeneration, without requiring a patient's own tissue. It can be manufactured in advance, stored, and used across many patients. Animal studies showed strong bone regrowth with minimal immune reaction. The team is now preparing for human clinical trials.

SUNDAY SCIENCE TRIVIA

Man of the Hole

Don’t Cheat: For years, the Man of the Hole was a symbol against indigenous genocide. You can watch documentary footage of his home here or read more on the incident here.

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