Remote-Controlled Flies

Rollie Hawk writes "This could be a huge development for the ultra-lazy (and ultra-stinky, for that matter). It seems that Yale scientists have managed to engineer a remote control system for flies. According to their study (recently featured in Cell), specific neurons can be stimulated by lasers to control basic functions in fruit flies such as jumping, walking, and flying. The study, of course, was performed with wider ranging applications in mind than bringing new meaning to the saying, "Shew, fly!" The overall goal was to determine whether isolated-neuron stimulation could be used to control basic motor activities and even more complex behavior. Everyone since the days of Mary Shelly has obviously known that there are connections between electrical current and muscle movement. What makes this study unique is that it does not use traditional electrodes, which lack the single-neuron specificity of lasers. Eventually, this could lead to mappings that will give humans knowledge and possibly control over not only complex movements but less-than desirable mental functions such as aggression and overeating."

Comments

Fly Racing

[fembots]

I once saw a fly racing competition where the contestants must get their flies to weave through a course.

They used water pistols filled with fruit juice. Flies' response time was slow but accuracy was extremely high.

Re:Fly Racing

[ackthpt]

I once saw a fly racing competition where the contestants must get their flies to weave through a course. They used water pistols filled with fruit juice. Flies' response time was slow but accuracy was extremely high.

It's all fun and games unless it's your maggot!

To bad for Sony.

[Kaenneth]

They patented doing this with Sound waves instead of Lasers.

Re:To bad for Sony.

[DumbSwede]

Yes, because we would rather have Sony shooting Laser Beams through our heads instead of sound waves...

Re:To bad for Sony.

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

Too bad the universal Sony remote controls almost certainly won't support this either.

Re:To bad for Sony.

[foofoodog]

I thought TV already accomplished all of this.

Oh yeah. Brilliant

[ZorbaTHut]

Like we really need the sharks with frickin' laser beams to be even *more* powerful.

I, for one, welcome our new brain-controlling frickin' laser shark overlords.

(Smooth, guys. Real smooth.)

Cool for cheap R/C aircraft!!!

[syousef]

Finally, I can look forward to owning a real remote control aircraft! No more having to play with r/c flight sims like Realflight or Aerofly Pro. No more props that could decapitate someone if they hit them the wrong way, so I'm sure the local council won't object to me flying it at the park! I wonder how many channels for the remote!?

Re:Cool for cheap R/C aircraft!!!

[WhatsAProGingrass]

We could apply this method to thousands of birds and tie a rope to them all and we can get them to fly us places. No more polution, less expansive than gas. Plus less traffic conjestion and noise polution. Just have to watch out for the bird poop. But we can just stimulate that part of the brain when we are at a parking spot or something.

Groucho had the answer

[Anonymous Coward]

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Groucho Marx

Re:Groucho had the answer

[brsmith4]

Hehe, I remember that from a discrete math class, demonstrating the inferiority of spoken language with regards to ambiguity.

Re:Groucho had the answer

[Capt'n Hector]

Frog says: Time's fun when you're having flies.

No comment

[bonch]

The scientists involved were unavailable for comment, as they were too busy constructing levels out of Lego blocks and playing them with their new remote-controlled flies in a real-life videogame.

Work has already begun to interface with the flies using an NES controller. "Up-up-down-down-left-rifgt-left-right-B-A-select" makes their wings spin off!" exclaimed one sugar-charged geek.

Re:No comment

[Lord_Dweomer]

This was funny, but as a kid I always dreamed I had remote controlled lego people that could pilot my remote control lego vehicles. This is one step closer to that. The cool thing about this is that we don't need to know much about the way the thing stays aloft or stays balanced, since it does it automatically. Although I'm sure this will help us learn more about how they do it.

I read it wrong. I hate when that happens !!

[fodi]

I thought this was going to be a discussion on remote-controlling computer files

gg evil-mart

[ccbutler]

another tool for the corporations to sell their goods and services.

- patron enters store
- patron gets stimulated by a flood of lazers within the store
- patron has the urge to purchase more than what he/she origionaly wanted

this sinister motive is nothing new either, corporations have dumped lots of money in research for these same reasons. I.e. certain fragrences in the air stimulate people to spend money, certain oxygen levels, etc. Ever notice how there is never a clock visable in a department store? The absence of knowing the time makes shoppers less in a hurry to leave.

Re:gg evil-mart

[Eric(b0mb)Dennis]

Eh? I work at k-mart and there's plenty of clocks everywhere.

Did you get the whole oxygen thing from the casino/urban legend?

Re:gg evil-mart

[NanoGator]

"Ever notice how there is never a clock visable in a department store?"

Heh. To be fair, they'd have to go out of their way to install clocks.

Re:gg evil-mart

[jaoswald]

Yeah, but you forgot the part about genetically altering the customers so that specific neurons fire in the presence of ATP, then injecting them with ATP "caged" in molecules that require a UV pulse to unlock.

This is completely inapplicable for commercial influence, you clueless slashbot. It is a very clever *laboratory technique* for causing impulses in specific neurons of test animals without implanting electrodes.

Get a clue.

Re:gg evil-mart

[nmb3000]

There's a lot of other places you can see this.

I saw a thing on Discovery Channel (I think) that talked about fast food places and what they did to try to get you to buy more and stay in the restaurant for less time.

As to eating more, ever hear of MSG? They call it a "flavor enhancer" but what it really does is make you want to eat more of whatever it's in. KFC was the worst offender in this--their chicken was drenched in the stuff. It's been known for a while that it excites neurons in the brain and is believed by a lot of people to be very unhealthy (like fried chicken is healthy, but wtf).

Also, restaurants don't like it when customers hang out longer than necessary, so they shape their tables/booths to be uncomfortable as well as choose aggravating colors. McDonald's used to use bright yellow and red colors because these were unpleasant to see and made you want to leave sooner (this show claimed anyway). Temperatures were also chosen to be colder in the dining area and warmer in the ordering are (if possible).

I would imagine that any way a company can influence a consumer to their advantage, as long as it's subtle, cheap, and easy they will do it in a heartbeat. This isn't paranoia talking, it's a model of corporate survival in a capitalist environment. It's not really that bad I guess, unless it gets out of hand and becomes potentially dangerous or truly unethical.

Re:gg evil-mart

[rapidweather]

I saw a show on the History channel about fast food, and they said KFC always put a serving of mashed potatoes in the bag, to add weight. That way, the customers would think they got their money's worth. I think of this when I visit other fast food resturants, and the bag seems light for the money I have paid. Guess the Colonel was right.

About the colors, Ronald McDonald has to wear those same Yellow and Red colors.

Re:gg evil-mart

[MyLongNickName]

Eh? I work at k-mart and there's plenty of clocks everywhere.

Maybe that's why they had to file bankruptcy twice...

Re:gg evil-mart

[G-funk]

No, MSG is simply a "flavour enhancer" that got a bad rap in the 80s because it was over-used and some people are allergic to it. It's like salt. There are certain receptors on your tongue that pick up MSG, just like there are some that detect sweet, sour, bitter, and savoury.

Re:gg evil-mart

[nmb3000]

Interesting. I did a little looking and it appears that what you said is true from most perspectives.

There's still a lot of people who think otherwise though. I wonder why this is still debated a lot? What is there to gain from removing MSG as many seem to want?

The one thing about all those "pro MSG" sites was that they all refer to mono-sodium glutamate as simply "glutamate", saying it's found naturally in proteins and in out bodies. Glutamate is an essential and natural amino acid. That's fine, but is plain old "glutamate" the exact same as MSG? MSG might be based on glutamate, but chemicals can change drastically if you add or remove extra elements. Anyone know more?

Re:gg evil-mart

[gfody]

Read this and look around here

unless you grow your own food, MSG is in just about EVERYTHING you eat. It helps you to be a good consumer. good consumer. goood.

Re:gg evil-mart

[aussie_a]

I dunno. PharmacyX teams up with K-Mart to include the ATP/UV/PVP-mumbo jumbo in their latest vaccine. Then PharmacyX pay doctors to administer said vaccine. Definitely seems possible to me.

Re:gg evil-mart

[nmb3000]

MSG is in just about EVERYTHING you eat

That's one reason I'm a little wary of it. My grandmother is gung-ho crazy about how bad MSG is for you, and out of curiosity I started looking at labels for food to see how many products have it. It's surprising how much stuff it's in. Pretty much anything canned like soups or chilies have it. Chicken and other broths have a ton. It's not always listed under "monosodium glutamate", there's other names for it too I guess. I think Ramen noodles are something like 32% MSG by weight (joke).

I don't know. MSG probably isn't too expensive, but unless it has a big impact on food flavor why would it be in so much? Manufactures must really think that MSG helps them sell their product if they pay to use so much of it. For a mere "flavor enhancer" it seems pretty dominant.

Re:gg evil-mart

[maxwell demon]

I don't know. MSG probably isn't too expensive, but unless it has a big impact on food flavor why would it be in so much? Manufactures must really think that MSG helps them sell their product if they pay to use so much of it.

I guess it's just cheaper than the flavour it replaces. That is, if you can replace e.g. half of all the flavour by cheaper MSG, then it's a win to do so.

Re:gg evil-mart

[Xiver]

What is there to gain from removing MSG as many seem to want?

I know that alot of people are allergic to MSG. I know about 3 personally, but the most extreme is my mother. If she eats anything with MSG in it she gets a severe migraine and locks herself in a quiet dark room for two days. It took her years to figure out what was causing the migraines. She has no kind words about MSG.

Re:gg evil-mart

[glesga_kiss]

What is there to gain from removing MSG as many seem to want?

It's not removal most want, simply required labeling. Let the consumer decide, but give them the information to do so. Food allergies can be a bitch, and being allergic to something that could be in any processed food without warning is dangerous. Many folk get a headache with too much MSG (even if they are not allergic) and it is also responsible for the chinese effect, where 30 minutes later you feel hungry. MSG is essentially a drug that makes your brain think you are eating something tasty and nutricious.

Re:gg evil-mart

[Anonymous Coward]

Amino acids have an acidic carboxylic acid group, a basic amine group, and a side chain. If the side chain is neutral, then the amino acid is pretty close to neutral, because the acid and base groups cancel each other out. Glutamic acid, however, is an acidic amino acid. When you mix it with a base, it makes a glutamate salt. In this case, the base is sodium hydroxide. If you add more base, it will become disodium glutamate, which is basic.

Having said all this, the biological effects of the salt and the acid forms are probably the same, as they would be interconverted between the different forms as the pH of their environment changes.

Re:gg evil-mart

[jaoswald]

Except they *also* have to

1) find specific, distinct neurons that cause the behavior they want
2) modify those neurons to respond to ATP

It's not clear at all that there are specific, distinct neurons that cause a consumer to buy an iPod, to pick a random example. Even if there are, it's not at all likely that the same neurons would cause the same response in others, so that the neuron is easy to find.

Flies work in the example because their nervous systems are considerably simpler than ours. The responses the scientists caused in this experiment are very low-level.

Furthermore, to modify the neurons, PharmaCompanyX would have to somehow pass clinical trials proving that their ATP/UV/PVP treatment was safe and effective for treating a disease, where the regulatory agencies are going to have to be convinced that "iPod avoidance" is medical disorder. And, doctors would have to completely abandon their ethical obligations to their patients, and insurance companies or patients would have to be convinced to pay for the medication.

Other than that, it might be conceivable. Hardly "definitely possible."

Fucking moron.

Re:gg evil-mart

[dantheman82]

As far as MSG, it's a common flavor enhancement because some companies don't know how to use *real* spices and flavorings. It's found in virtually every snack (Doritos, etc.) and in much else.

I used to work in McDonalds, and what you said is far from correct. Those who stayed longer were more likely to buy more food, including dessert (where markup is pretty high). Plus, why would there be all these signs advertising the latest and greatest in the dining area, and a PlayPlace, and some foliage and so on if they want you to leave ASAP? As far as temperature, you must be pretty stupid if you think the heat difference wasn't from the 200 degree french fry vats, and 200+ degree grill, and so on. In the dining area, on the other hand, it was actually bearable.

Was it the Discovery Channel or maybe a Google search for "conspiracy theory"?

Re:gg evil-mart

[glesga_kiss]

Labeling already is required. You just have to look for glutamate, glutamic acid, or MSG in the ingredients list.

I missed the announcement of the creation of the global world government and legal framework, and it's subsequent ruling on this :-). Some countries differ in exactly what need to be listed you know. However, the list of alternate names of MSG is way longer than you think, and it can exist in any other ingredient without having to mention it.

Look at any soft drink, one of the ingredients is usually "favourings". MSG is a flavour enhancer, and would easilly fit under here if you wanted to. You never see "stainless steel (contains iron)" do you?

Shocking Inaccuracy

[Doc Ruby]

Since the days of Galvani , the Italian experimenter for whom "galvanic" current is named. Mary Shelly's days started just about when Galvani's ended, as he died in December 1798, while she was born in August 1797. She wrote the story of "Frankenstein's monster", where dead flesh is revived by electricity, during Summer 1816.

Re:Shocking Inaccuracy

[Doc Ruby]

You need to calm down, Anonymous humorless Coward, and realize that "shocking inaccuracy" is a pun, a kind of joke. And that this is "News for Nerds", for whom Galvani is not so obscure. I'll go on to point out that Galvani's 1780s work was a half-century before the 1831 revised 3rd edition of Frankenstein widely publicized the idea of "electric life force" - not immediately. I added some info to expand on the point made in the summary. Your own post, AC, to suppress me, isn't even funny.

Re:Shocking Inaccuracy

[Doc Ruby]

What post 8)?

Re:Shocking Inaccuracy

[danila]

Obscure scientist? Heck, the whole thing was named after him (galvanism). How is that obscure?

Re:Shocking Inaccuracy

[1u3hr]

Mary Shelly's days started just about when Galvani's ended, as he died in December 1798, while she was born in August 1797. She wrote the story of "Frankenstein's monster", where dead flesh is revived by electricity, during Summer 1816.

What a coincidence. Mary Shelley was also born in 1797 and wrote a book about a monster in 1816.

controlling our brains

[sellin'papes]

I wonder what the benefits of artificially overcoming anger and over eating are. These mental functions generally have root causes. To use a form of mind control to subdue those thoughts will be temporary and will make our society dependent on brain lasers to cure our problems. The solution should come from confronting the causes in our personal lives. However, using the lasers to make animals dance could have benefits for all. Flea circus indeed!

Re:controlling our brains

[datafr0g]

Good call.

A behaviour like over eating can't just be stopped without some kind of side effect. Behaviours need to be replaced carefully (ideally with something more constructive than over eating), as there will always be a side effect. If the behaviour is "removed" the outcome would be frustration or something else which is probably going to be negative. Whatever it is that triggered the feeling to overeat should be relearnt as something else, eg, read a book, do some exercise, etc. Eg, you can't just quit smoking. You have to replace the behaviour of smoking with doing something else. Thats why a lot of quitters get fat. The can't smoke so they eat.... the difficulty is reassociating with something useful.

Re:controlling our brains

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

What about the people who want to stop smoking of "over-eating"?

Re:controlling our brains

[datafr0g]

There is a metabolism aspect to stopping smoking also, not just behavior replacement.

I agree. But the subject was controlling behavior through thought so that's the area I have focused on.

Unless you've tried to stop smoking, "over-eating", etc., then stop with the holier-than-thou "just change your behavior" "show some will power", etc., attitude. It gets nothing done.

Well I have tried, what makes you assume I havent?
I also never said it was easy as in thinking "oh gee, I smoke too much, I'll stop doing it", if it was that easy, the world would be a much different place.

Re:controlling our brains

[bobscealy]

The first thought that springs to mind (a little disturbingly) is the military benefit. A weapon that subdues the opponent would surely be of great utility to any army. It would certainly put a new edge on political persuasion if one could quietly modify a political leaders emotions. And if that doesnt work, using it to make a few world leaders dance and jump could be worth a giggle.

Re:controlling our brains

[ihategenetics]

You're entirely missing the point. The "brain lasers" won't work in humans. They're a research tool to help us figure out what the causes of things like aggression and obesity, so we can figure out ways to treat them more effectively.

Regarding aggression and obesity having causes in our personal lives, that's obviously partially true, but that doesn't mean we can't fix them clockwork orange-style. That day will hopefully come soon.

Re:controlling our brains

[Felinoid]

If they use the brain lazers like they use drugs today (as an end all cure) then yeah. However brain lazers are a lot healthyer than drugs.

However if they use the lazers to cure the sympoms and then address the real problem then it'll be a real benifit.

There is also the detail that with brain lazers we'd have a deeper understanding of how the brain works and can't (as we do now) fool ourselfs into thinking the patent is cured.
We could trace the cause back and see the REAL problem.

Re:controlling our brains

[glesga_kiss]

To use a form of mind control to subdue those thoughts will be temporary and will make our society dependent on brain lasers to cure our problems.

Eh, that's been the case for 100 years. Ever since we invented eye glasses, poorly sighted people are just as useful as 20-20 vision folk. So there is now no gene filter for bad eyesight, and the planets eyesight will get progressively worse over time.

Every advance we make in medicine that results in something inheriable a non-issue means us becoming dependant on that advance at some future point. If low sperm counts and floppy dick syndrome are genertic, the infertility clinics and viagra would be wise investments for future trading.

Re:controlling our brains

[h4rm0ny]

And being able to turn off your own or another's aggression would be a good thing for who? Aggression can allow us to stand up for ourselves and our loved ones, to compete and to generally not be the sheep that governments and police want you to be.

Aside from which, 19/20 times, aggression is the symptom, not the cause. Hey, we don't need to see why youths vandalise, hassle or assault people, we'll just blanket the deprived area with aggression neutralising laser beams.

Aggression is the human emotion of feeling threatened. Remember - don't deal with it, accept it, with Anger-Be-Gone laser pointers, available on prescription.

Other insects...

[parasonic]

Now if I were a little richer, I could have a remote control bee.

Re:Other insects...

[MyLongNickName]

Now if I were a little richer, I could have a remote control bee.

Imagine a beowulf cluster of those... I think I'd call it "a swarm".

Re:Other insects...

[kzinti]

When I was a kid, we used to tie a long thread to the hind leg of a June bug (the green scarabs you find in Alabama - not those brown things that are called "June Bugs" in Texas). So tethered, you can release the little critter, hold onto the other end of the thread, and he'll fly in circles around you. Cruel, but entertaining.

Sweet

[grommet_tdi]

This opens the door to the exciting world of nanotechnology. The number of applications could be limitless, one of which could be the development of tiny flying robots, millions working together to solve complex problems. Of course the military could see immediate benefits, creating swarms of synthetic "cameras", allowing our intelligence agencies access to unprecedented targets of interest. And the risks should be minimal, as these are purely man-made beings with no innate ability to reproduce, mutate, or turn on their creators. I for one cannot wait...sign me up!

Re:Sweet

[Nataku564]

Im guessing you haven't read the article ...

This particular one is about scientists in a labratory controlling real flies, not creating some new tiny robotic fly armada.

Re:Sweet

[Nataku564]

Hm ... it seems to have also flown over the heads of the mods, as they have deemed it insightful.

sex-laser

[houst]

"...Eventually, this could lead to mappings that will give humans knowledge and possibly control over not only complex movements but less-than desirable mental functions such as aggression and overeating." ...or abstinence. Think of the potential of a sex-laser like that!

Re:sex-laser

[Anonymous Coward]

Somehow, I think the power of a laser to overcome the opacity of the skull, skin, hair, etc., in order to trigger central brain ganglia is probably more than enough to blow the head up.

Microwaves will probably be the mechanism to do this in mammals.

Of course, they're using magnetic field modulation to do deep brain stimulation in severely depressed individuals to evoke the same responses as ECT w/o the negative side effects, not the least is the temporary personality wipeout and desire for Spud Beer.

zap diet

[Virtual Karma]

Husband: Honey! why are you just eating oatmeal today?
Wife: Thats because my dietitian zapped me with this laser.
Husband: How much did it cost?
Wife: Only $550
Husband: *faints*

Re:zap diet

[Anonymous Coward]

In the future, we will have control over the faint reaction! Using LASERS.

CyborgFly

[Bananatree3]

[researchers] We shall control you with lasers [fly] try me! You can never control me! [researchers] Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated in 10,9,8,7... [fly] I laugh in the face of lasers! ha! ha! ha! ha! [researchers] 2,1... Activating neuron-control laser. Initiating first command...JUMP! [fly jumps] I don't understand! I feel perfectly normal, but I am jumping!?! [researchers] you have been assimilated.

Hasn't this happened with rats?

[swimin]

I didn't rtfa, but wasn't there a project that remote controlled rats?

Re:Hasn't this happened with rats?

[amoebadrew]

http://wired-vig.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282, 52236,00.html They did it with electrodes in the rat's brain/

Re:Hasn't this happened with rats?

[swimin]

Ok, thanks.

Re:Hasn't this happened with rats?

[curlyjunglejake]

And with cockroaches. There is actually a company called BrainGate that is in human trial phase for a complex electrode fiber implant sheith that will go over the brains of the severly handicapped to allow them to regain fine tuned control over computer screen elements. Eventually they would like to produce "wearable robots"; essentially a hydrolic exoskeleton directly controllable via "natural" movement commands from the brain. There are also groups trying to devise means of implanting a surrogate nervous system that would stimulate the muscles and allow a severly injured individual to regain direct control over their limbs. This last bit is highly speculative, but all have been considered.

None have very much to do with this particular technology.

Go to Hell

[TheKidWho]

Like I really need a gay ass computer chip to controll my aggression, screw you, you stupid piece of shit!

Re:Go to Hell

[Anonymous Coward]

Can someone explain the concepts of sarcasm and irony to the idiot that modded the parent a troll.

Implications

[karn096]

It makes me think of what the implications of such a discovery could be in the future. Just imagine what government types, or even interest groups could and probably would do if they could control other peoples motor reflexes, and even supress or bring out certain emotions that would make a certain cause easier to bring about.

It's sorta scary thinking about what someone with a lacking in morals might do if something like this were to get to such a point.

I discovered this DECADES ago...

[Anonymous Coward]

...during a Laser Zeppelin show when I took off like a hummingbird. By buddies thought it was the brown acid, but I swore it was the lasers.

Oh.... Flies

[TigerX]

Read the title as Files the first time around and wondered to myself.... What's new about that? So, figure that the first application will be for Recon and Defense?

the best scientific coverage so far

[ihategenetics]

is here.

Re:I read it wrong. I hate when that happens !!

[rbarreira]

You were not the only one ;)

Foil hat

[dark_requiem]

So a foil hat will block this out, right guys? Guys? Why are you all advancing on me with weapons? And what's with the glazed look in your eyes? Guys? Really, this isn't funny anymore, get back, I swear to god I'll... *long, terrified scream*...

Yaaay in the future I'll be able to bug anyone

[bacterial_pus]

I want.

Now curable thru pills OR lasers!

[Dun Malg]

Eventually, this could lead to mappings that will give humans knowledge and possibly control over not only complex movements but less-than desirable mental functions such as aggression and overeating

Why is it that these "mental functions" are seen as some sort of involuntary nervous tic instead of the behavioral actions they really are? Jerkiness and gluttony will be treated with lasers! No need to develop a societally acceptable personality-- we'll just zap your brain every time you think about eating or slugging someone!

This is just the tip of the iceberg

[MCTFB]

Pretty soon science will give us the ability to reprogram specific areas of the human brain and not to much farther down the road you could potentially remap an entire human brain onto a clone "6th Day" style.

But why would you want to even stop there? Why not just create a new host for your consciousness in the form of reprogrammable replicating nanocells that are adverse to many of the inherent problems with cellular life and its fragile DNA?

Even better than that, with this new artificial host created by nanocells, your consciousness could instruct your nanocells to create new limbs or extend your special member to any desired length or girth with just a thought "Spawn" style. You could in effect become anything you wanted to, provided there are safeguards for not corrupting your own neural net accidentally.

Of course these prospects might sound cool now, but even the typical amoral geekified anti-god slashdotter has to wonder if there is such a thing as science going too far when you can reprogram and remote control other organisms (including humans) in such a way that you might as well be playing god yourself.

Re:This is just the tip of the iceberg

[Chrontius]

I think what you're referring to is utility fog.

Even if you wanted to be a Terminator, establishing a direct enough interface to directly read and write to your brain is going to be difficult enough that mind-raping people casually is going to be damn difficult. Especially when neural firewalls hit the market.

That said, I'd absolutely love such a nanotech body when my clone craps out. :)

a link to the movies

[ihategenetics]

is here.

The last movie is the best.

how it works, briefly

[davi_bock]

The flies have been engineered to express receptors for the neurotransmitter ATP in subpopulations of neurons. (This is the same ATP that is used for energy storage; it also acts as a neurotransmitter in mammals.) They are then injected with a form of ATP that is inactive until it is exposed to ultraviolet light. When the flies are exposed to the UV, the ATP is uncaged, and the selected population of neurons expressing the transgenic receptors is activated.

Also, Carl Zimmer has written an article in the NYTimes on this; here's his blog post on the topic, as well.

Re:how it works, briefly

[danila]

I don't know about the article, but the blog post was totally unprofessional and lame in a misguided attempt to please some weird target audience. Why all that talk about hypothetical unethical scientists, the cocain?

less desirable?

[SoCalEd]

...and even other less, less, less desirable mental functions such as heresy, criticizing one's government and saying naughty words....

dyslexia is a cruel mistress

[DangerTenor]

I could have sworn the link in my RSS reader said "Remote-Controlled Files". I was wondering what doofus had accepted a story about FTP.

shew is an obscure alternative spelling of show

[Nivag353]

As a child in England, I found that shew was an alternative spelling of show in a dictionary; but the only place I can remember seeing it used, was on a sign at the entrance to the Mersey Tunnel. Possibly shoo was intended?

Re:shew is an obscure alternative spelling of show

[Zen Punk]

sho' nuff.

Re:shew is an obscure alternative spelling of show

[qzulla]

Ever see the Ed Sullivan shew (US)? Show. He would be the one to blame. That is how he pronounced show.

"We have a really good shew tonight...."

He broke The Beatles over here and put Elvis on the map along with all the dancing monkeys and acrobats from Russia.

q

Re:shew is an obscure alternative spelling of show

[JPelorat]

That concept is completely ludacris!

Finally the future

[Easy2RememberNick]

Laser beam controlled fruit flies. Welcome to the future my friends.

I wonder if this will work on people. Geek + that really bright green laser from ThinkGeek = date?

time to wear your reflective hats

[Khashishi]

This is just one step closer to state-prescribed mind control.

Classic!

[saikou]

Gives a whole new meaning to that classic

Fly, my pretties! ;)

Stronger Better

[Side Winder 2000]

Man, you could make the perfect soldure with this kind of technology. If you can suppress fear and pain, and amp up adrenalin and you've got quite the fighting machine on your hands.

Re:Stronger Better

[postsingularity]

This pretty much already happens without technology. Seeing as the technology involved requires trasngenic modification and further requires a uv light source that can reach the neurons in question, somewhat less of a problem for an essentially transparent fruit fly than it would be a human with a half inch of bone and a flak helmet in the way

Re:Stronger Better

[Jedi Alec]

drill hole in skull, replace with glass cover. Insert laser on inside of said flak helmet.
Equip with exoskeleton from yesterday's story...

Profit?

Shoo, fly

[pipingguy]

Not, "shew, fly."

(unless the intent was to buy 3 pairs of really tiny sneakers)

Did someone go and change TEL while I wasn't paying attention again?

Max Headroom

[mrseigen]

I just watched the episode of Max Headroom where they spy on a board meeting via a mechanical fly, and now I see this?

kinda scary...

[theraccoon]

...As this gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "They made me do it!"

Bah, I won't be impressed until...

[snuf23]

They can wire the entire functions of a human body to a nifty ten button video game controller.

"Brain' and 'brain'! What is 'brain'?"

Military uses

[EmbeddedJanitor]

If you can make a fly hop etc, it isn't too far to making soldiers do stuff, or shooting an enemy with a dart and taking control of their body (eg. make them surrender etc).

Re:Military uses

[Fiz Ocelot]

I've been doing that with Dark Archons for years :P

Re:Military uses

[ikkonoishi]

Why go through the trouble of making them surrender when you can just disable their voluntary muscle control?

Really I doubt that anyone would want soldiers to be able to be remote controlled. That introduces far to large of a possible security breach for it ever to get past the drawing stages, and it would definately reduce the number of people willing to volunteer for the military.

I guess you could force conscription, but conscripted soldiers really suck for today's warfare because of the higher education requirements for operating the most effective tactical gear.

If you just want a body that you can control, animals would be better than humans in most cases.
Reptiles in particular would be good at stealth work due to cold-bloodedness masking them from infrared goggles.

Not to mention the military applications of sharks with fricken laser beams on their heads.

Re:Military uses

[Olix]

maybe soldiers would object to being remote controlled... but what about genetically engineered super soldiers - half human, half rhino, half lizard. Now that would be cool. and feasible for use within the near future, too!

Re:Military uses

[ikkonoishi]

You can't torture information out of them if you kill them.

Remember everyone. Pillage. Then Burn.

Re:Military uses

[ikkonoishi]

Yeah. Those things would give 150 percent!

Orbital Mind Control Lasers...

[Anonymous Coward]

... can't be that far off. :D

Re:Orbital Mind Control Lasers...

[The_Mr_Flibble]

Obligitory simpsons quote.
Can't. Stop. Doing. The Monkey.

Plug the remote control....

[happymedium]

into the second controller port, and the flies will no longer be able to avoid your swatters.

fun misread

[happymedium]

Remote-Controlled Files? Get with the times, stupid scientists! This has been in Windows for years!

Go directly to Market Research. Do not pass Go....

[SlowDancing]

...specific neurons can be stimulated by lasers to control basic functions in fruit flies such as jumping, walking, and flying.

Don't you suppose getting a fly to sit still and wait would be more beneficial?

Luigi Galvani

[BobandMax]

Question:
What does Gothic novelist Mary Shelley have to do with the electro-muscular research pioneered by Luigi Galvani?

Answer:
Nothing.

Re:Luigi Galvani

[AtillaTheKilla]

Possibly the fact that she introduced the concept to the general public had something to do with it...

Re:Luigi Galvani

[BobandMax]

Actually, Galvani's discoveries were a big deal in the day. He was one of the prominent researchers of the late eighteenth century exploring electricity's properties.

Scarry...

[mmarshall]

/me goes to find misplaced tin-foil-hat.

What the...?

[lux55]

Even headless flies took flight when researchers stimulated the correct neurons, according to the study, published in the April 7 issue of the journal Cell.

Great, now we're one step closer to an actual Night of the Living Dead.

Time to go rehearse some lines*, just in case.

*I know I'm mixing up movies, but I've always wanted a legitimate reason to repeat those phrases. ;)

Research abstract

[Anonymous Coward]

(So people don't have to dig around for it...)

Remote Control of Behavior through Genetically Targeted Photostimulation of Neurons

Susana Q. Lima and Gero Miesenböck

Optically gated ion channels were expressed in circumscribed groups of neurons in the Drosophila CNS so that broad illumination of flies evoked action potentials only in genetically designated target cells. Flies harboring the "phototriggers" in different sets of neurons responded to laser light with behaviors specific to the sites of phototrigger expression. Photostimulation of neurons in the giant fiber system elicited the characteristic escape behaviors of jumping, wing beating, and flight; photostimulation of dopaminergic neurons caused changes in locomotor activity and locomotor patterns. These responses reflected the direct optical activation of central neuronal targets rather than confounding visual input, as they persisted unabated in carriers of a mutation that eliminates phototransduction. Encodable phototriggers provide noninvasive control interfaces for studying the connectivity and dynamics of neural circuits, for assigning behavioral content to neurons and their activity patterns, and, potentially, for restoring information corrupted by injury or disease.

Blipverts

[Felinoid]

Max Headrom was a show ahead of it's time in many ways.

I see this artical and I think of blipverts (subliminal advertising)

Flies can now...

[djinn2020]

According to their study (recently featured in Cell), specific neurons can be stimulated by lasers to control basic functions in fruit flies such as jumping, walking, and flying.

...as well as a variety of showtunes!

soon flies will be entertaining us with all their hilarious antics -- controlled by humans of course :)

Brain Lazers?

[Felinoid]

Orbital brain lazers

Just wait...

[jessecurry]

Soon Sony may have an Aibo attachment for real dogs!

Hey, you know what's awesome!?

[NitsujTPU]

What's awesome is that Slashdot now comes equiped with readers who can't wait to have their brains controlled! Yay!

Good science, though!

laser controlled flies

[enochthered]

Now we can finally combat God's nasty plagues. If only pharoah had this technology...

Have to ask...

[lxw56]

How long until a hacker manages to crack it?

In Near-Tropical Florida...

[Penguinoflight]

You dont care about silly nuron games, If I could just keep misquitos off, I'd call the insect brain research complete.

paging Russ Wuertz, paging Russ Wuertz!

[Cryofan]

google it....

...not really...

[x2A]

nicotine i believe messes with neurotransmitter levels such as anandomide, which is responsible for pumping more blood around your stomach so you can digest food. When you stop smoking, there is more than a psycological response - a physiological one, that results in more blood being pumped to digest food, which increases hunger. (Incidentally, cannabis(/THC) acts on anandomide receptor sites, causing increased blood flow to the stomach, giving you "the munchies").

After you start eating, hormones are slowly released which stop the neurotransmitters from being released that make you hungry. In some people, these hormones are not released [as much] or don't have the full effect they should, which can result in hunger not being staved off, and thus over-eating. In cases as these, activating receptor sites the hormones should be (eg, through drugs or 'lasers'?) would correct the problem. As you're helping something to happen that should be happening anyway, i can't see any validity in your argument.

-2A

...should also note...

[x2A]

whilst true that high levels of glutamite can cause neuron death due to excitotoxicity, the brain does have defenses against it (in fact when glutamite levels shoot up high, the brain releases an NMDA-antagonist similar to ketamine, to protect against excitotoxicity).

Glutamite is also coverted in the brain to GABA, another amino acid which acts as a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, which counters glutamite and other excitory neurotransmitters. So it really isn't so cut and dry.

-2A

...on the other end...

[x2A]

my mom used to do this to me :'-(

-2A

Re:Ehhh

[doctorfaustus]

You know nothing, spelling Nazi

Shew, fly

control

[x2A]

controlling rats was not done by controlling their muscles (eg, electical impulses to make their legs move, something I would have a problem with), but by triggering their reward system when they go move the right way. This makes the rat actually want to do what you're telling it, and ultimately it does it of it's own free will. I thought this was pretty cool.

-2A

The solution to my aggression

[stor]

Last night a friend came round to my place to discover a dead cat near the gate. It's owner lives in the block of flats I live in.

I broke the news to the woman. She accused me of killing the cat. Then she accused my friend. Then she accused just about every other person at the flats.

My mate and I just wanted to bury the poor cat and she fought like a bitch with another woman who she was *convinced* killed the cat on purpose. They didn't stop bitching the entire time.

She kept weeping "This is what happens when you trust people". She was right but not for the reason she thought: it was *her* lack of responsibility that led to the cat's death. She let it roam around. If you let a cat roam it will end up being hit by a car. Every time. What cat lover isn't aware of this obvious fact?

I ended up screaming at these women and threatening to go back to my apartment and not help any further. They *still* didn't stop bitching.

If I'd had a powerful mind-controlling laser maybe things would have been different. In fact I believe if I had any sort of laser handy I could have controlled the situation more effectively.

Cheers
Stor

All problems solved!

[topical_surficant]

control over not only complex movements but less-than desirable mental functions such as aggression and overeating.

And Visual Basic coding.

But... But...

[Greyfox]

The accidental decapitations are the BEST PART of RC airplanes! They're a real crowd pleaser and the sport wouldn't have nearly the draw that it does if no one got a head or arm lopped off every once in a while.

No electricity in "Frankenstein"

[taltman]

Just in case no one has pointed this out already, but there was no use of electricity to animate Frankenstein's monster in Mary Shelley's novel. That idea came solely from Hollywood's bad adaptations of the novel. There's mention of electricity, lightening, and galvanism in chapter 2, but those just serve as motivating factors that lead Victor Frankenstein to attend college to study science. In fact, there is scarcely anything mentioned about what Frankenstein specifically did to bring his creation to life.

Searchable full text of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"

~taltman

rotm

[davesag]

now we are one step closer to the dream of sending remote controlled downs' syndrome people into battle. who will make our wicker baskets now!

I SECOND THIS

[shpoffo]

Whoe-heartedly. I wish I could moderate it simultaneously.

.
-shpoffo

Re:Ehhh

[Aaron Denney]

No, no: it's "You know-nothing spelling-Nazi."

Look, it's not surprising that you can find a on old variant spelling of shoo out there. But it's not correct modern spelling. When I see "shew", I think of the old spelling of show, rather than shoo.

Obligatoy Warning Label

[Shag]

Do not look into laser with remaining fly.

That reminds me ...

[maxwell demon]

... of this (German language) story. :-)

People have to learn the way they learn. . .

[Fantastic Lad]

Control. . .

Some people are so scared of the world hurting them that they feel the need to control every last inch of it.

If you don't give a cat the freedom to roam about, it will turn into a lazy and/or mentally ill indoor cat. I see this all the time. Compare any 'house' cat from the city with any outdoor cat in the country, and the difference is immediately obvious.

Freedom, Death and Danger are good teachers. If a people can't deal with this, then they should reconsider trying to 'own' a cat. --Cities are horrible places for all kinds of animal, except humans choose to live in cities. Cats and dogs are held prisoner by selfish/ignorant humans who are in the middle of learning lessons about freedom, emotional attachment and social control. This often takes several lives to get right.

To let your cat roam free is to be on the right path.

To lose your marbles and blame the world for killing your cat, is to slip and fall while walking the right path. (Receive without grace an important lesson about freedom.)

Controlling people with lasers is no better than keeping a cat locked up for life inside a one-bedroom apartment. People must be given the free range within which to live and get hurt and act without grace, or they will never learn anything and remain little better than mentally ill carpet ornaments.

-FL

Re:People have to learn the way they learn. . .

[stor]

Controlling people with lasers is no better than keeping a cat locked up for life inside a one-bedroom apartment.

Hehe, I was kidding about the lasers. I should have inserted smileys =)

Originally I was thinking of self-inflicted mind control, letting me control my emotions while the women were bitching.

My family has owned heaps of cats and we've always let them roam around. I don't see the point of owning an animal at all, let alone locking it up. Owning pets is mostly a selfish exercise.

So no disagreement here: my original post was simply written poorly.

Cheers
Stor

doggy obedience school

[mattite]

So will collars with these new-fangled laser beams be available soon, or will Spot have to fail obedience school a third time?

This is fantastic

[ValuJet]

I think the question everyone wants to know is how long will it take to develop a remote controlled Hally Berry

Wait wait wait

[Darkman, Walkin Dude]

This whole story makes no sense... aren't lasers mostly light, whether in the visible spectrum or invisible spectrum? If so, how exactly is this light piercing the outer crunchy bits of the fruit fly, and targetting specific neurons?

If you wanted to use this on humans, you would have considerably more flesh, blood, and bone to work through, not to mention the fact that the neurons might not be conveniently located on the surface of the brain, so you might have to drill through a whole lot more. Is that smoke I smell?

Yes, I am aware that certain forms of light radiation can pass through the body, but anything affecting neurons is probably going to affect anything else in the way also. On the whole, this story smells like BS, or more likely the wet dream of one of GW's contemporaries.

Next up...

[tooloftheoligarchy]

"Hey, what's this funny laser-emitter-looking thing on my can of Coke?" BZZAP! "Mmmm. Soda."

Scary

[Some_Llama]

"that will give humans knowledge and possibly control over not only complex movements but less-than desirable mental functions such as aggression and overeating."

Just who will be deciding what mental functions are the less desirable ones?

Doesn't anyone else find this a scary development?

How far from thought and mind control are we actually?

Re:I read it wrong. I hate when that happens !!

[Old Wolf]

I thought this was going to be a discussion on remote-controlling computer files

That's a few stories up (see the title "Microsoft Releases 8 New Security Patches").

Michael Moorcock talked about that in Van Bek

[infonography]

one of the characters had a chariot of song birds. Good read if you get a chance to find it.