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Remote Control Worms With Laser Light, Using FOSS

Posted by timothy on from the haven't-you-always-wanted-to-see-those-words? dept.

Kramer747 writes "to share a new tool I've developed for neuroscience that uses optogenetics to remotely control the neurons of a worm as it swims or crawls. Its called CoLBeRT, Controlling Locomotion and Behavior in Real Time. With the instrument I can induce the worm to stop, accelerate, lay eggs or experience the illusion of touch. All source code to run the instrument is GPLd and available. Science News and Scientific American both have stories. The project homepage is at colbert.physics.harvard.edu." I hope that name also constitutes a successful bid to get on the actual Colbert show!

16 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Good PR department by Amorymeltzer · · Score: 5, Funny

    The CoLBeRT project is dedicated to its namesake, Stephen Colbert, who manipulates the neurocircuits of millions of Americans daily using only the light from their monitors.

    --
    I live in constant fear of the Coming of the Red Spiders.
  2. Explains the Fremen control of sandworms by Insanity+Defense · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Herbert was a Prophet?

    1. Re:Explains the Fremen control of sandworms by icebike · · Score: 4, Interesting

      But all Herbert dreamed up was hooks. Not half as cool as worms with freaking lasers on their heads.

       

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  3. If you can't get on the Colbert Report with this by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 2

    Maybe you can try for Iron Chef Japan.

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  4. Minions! by SuricouRaven · · Score: 4, Funny

    I see very little practical use for controlling worms. Now, get me a vertebrate, a good-sized one... can you get it light enough to mount on a bird? That would be useful. Birds have a lot of lift in them.

    I can see why C. Elegans was used. I know of that worm. It's been mapped: Every neuron teased apart, and it's connections to the others documented.

    1. Re:Minions! by AchilleTalon · · Score: 3, Funny

      Obviously, you completely missed the point about the military potentiel of a platoon of tapeworms remotely controlled.

      --
      Achille Talon
      Hop!
    2. Re:Minions! by formfeed · · Score: 2

      Tonight on CW:

      Squirm
      1976, Horror
      During a storm, the power lines are broken and touch the ground, calling up millions of earthworms and turning them into vicious man-eaters that are unleashed upon a small, unsuspecting American fishing village in Georgia.

      How timely.

    3. Re:Minions! by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 2

      If you could mount it on a bird, the bird could tell worms to crawl into their bellies.

      --
      God spoke to me.
  5. Old hat by anza · · Score: 4, Funny

    I played this game on my Nokia YEARS ago.

    1. Re:Old hat by SharpFang · · Score: 2

      You mean you have to use your hands?
      That's like a baby's toy!

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      45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
  6. Re:Unethical? by ZankerH · · Score: 2

    Ethics only applies to animals whose nervous systems are complex enough to be considered as "brains".

  7. Re:Colbert? There's Stewart, too. by Kramer747 · · Score: 2

    Added to the links page:
    http://colbert.physics.harvard.edu/links.php

    I'm still basically writing the website, so there is more stuff coming.

  8. Did a double take when I read the headline... by mark-t · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think I need new glasses. I first read the headline as "Remote Control Women With Laser Light, using FOSS"

    Read what you will into what that says about my subconscious. I'm making an appointment with my eye doctor this week.

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    1. Re:Did a double take when I read the headline... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Do not look at Remote Control Women With Laser Light, using FOSS with remaining eye.

  9. Re:Colbert? There's Stewart, too. by Ichoran · · Score: 2

    Very sporting of you!

    Maybe this will bring in a new era of competitive worm-games: you control your team (or single worm) with your system, and Stirman controls the other side with his. (You just need to put them in a microfluidic device and set up your system on one side and theirs on the other....)

  10. Why it's useful by Ichoran · · Score: 4, Interesting

    One of the big questions in science is how neurons control behavior. It's a tough thing to answer when you can't control the neurons. (E.g. "tell me what this software program works without using it or altering the source code.")

    So this is a big help in figuring out how neurons control worm behavior. Since we don't know much about how neurons control the behavior of anything, this is a big step forward!