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Biological Supercomputers Powered By ATP Could Be A Reality Some Day (dispatchtribunal.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the molecular-motor-propelled-agents-in-nanofabricated-networks dept.

hypnosec writes: Our cells are powered by Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and according to a new study, they could be a power source for the next generation of biological supercomputers capable of processing information very quickly and accurately using parallel networks in the same way that massive electronic super computers do. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the paper describes a model of biological computer that is effectively a very complex network in a very small area, and is based on a combination of geometrical modeling and engineering know-how (on the nano scale). Researchers involved with the study claim that it is the first step in showing that this kind of biological supercomputer can actually work.

66 comments

  1. Data? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is that you?

    1. Re: Data? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. Is it you?

    2. Re: Data? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, I'm Lore

    3. Re: Data? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not myself today. Maybe I'm you.

    4. Re: Data? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 0

      I don't understand.
      -- B4

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    5. Re: Data? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Beep boop beep LOL

    6. Re:Data? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that you?

      You're a stupid moron with an ugly face and a big butt and your butt smells and you like to kiss your own butt.

      Reply to This.

  2. Old news by penguinoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm a biological supercomputer that runs on ATP. Well, sugar and caffeine really, but it's converted to ATP in between.

    --
    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
    1. Re:Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'm greener than you. I run on an ethanol blend.

      So there.

    2. Re:Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you enjoy people telling you "no shit?" or is stating the obvious just a hobby?

    3. Re:Old news by penguinoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      In case you're wondering, use a hardware-based neural net to learn and store data. All my components are fully biodegradable and non-toxic. My capabilities include real-time video processing and object identification, full voice recognition, and the ability to pass the Turing Test. You can download both my blueprints and full base code here. The full download is pretty small; smaller than a modern computer game in fact.

      --
      Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
    4. Re:Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      If you died of cancer, you're family would cheer, as would everyone else who knows you. You literally disgust every human being you encounter.

    5. Re:Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, I'm sorry. Was penguinoid trying to be cheeky? I thought he was making an idiot remark from the peanut gallery. My bad!

    6. Re: Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope the depository mechanism for your schematics is not that small. Especially if it functions properly

    7. Re:Old news by codeButcher · · Score: 1

      In soviet Russia, the Matrix exists in you.

      --
      Free, as in your money being freed from the confines of your account.
    8. Re:Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In America, you just get Jesus inside you.

    9. Re:Old news by MaxSmoke · · Score: 2

      I bet you release a toxic cloud time to time..

    10. Re:Old news by hene · · Score: 3, Funny
      Once they get this production ready, I hope that bug fixes are compatible because I have a long list of those.
      • Algorithms that background process(es) use to defragmentation and dedublicating data are severely flawed and continually cause data loss.
      • The storage medium is ridiculously unstable and corrupts data in unacceptable rate.
      • When retrieving from the cold storage, latency is too high to be practical in almost any real world situation.

      Just to mention a few. Could use that quicker information processing they advertise too.

    11. Re:Old news by JoeMerchant · · Score: 2

      The full download is pretty small; smaller than a modern computer game in fact.

      That's just the wetware design, you forgot to mention the 30+ years of programming effort it took to get you up to being a reasonably functional member of the collective.

    12. Re:Old news by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      Garbage in shit out

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    13. Re:Old news by Solandri · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't recommend this. I've tried using it for a while and it's very finicky. For one, it needs to be maintained within a tight temperature range of between about 35-42 C. Allow it to drift outside that range even for a few minutes and you're looking at total loss of the hardware and neural net. It has some built-in temperature regulating capability, but still needs supplemental insulation and heating at cooler temperatures, and active cooling at higher temps. Blocking the air vent results in system hibernation in less than a minute, and total loss of the system within 5-10 minutes.

      Also, you don't immediately get a fully functional system. It takes a long time - a couple decades - before it reaches stability. Granted most of that time is spent priming the neural net. But the neural net is slow too. It seems to function based on creating new physical connections which take time to grow, instead of virtual ones which can be made or destroyed instantly. In contrast, a silicon-based system can be up and running in a few months, with priming the neural net taking about a year, quicker if you can dump in the data from a previous iteration (also something you can't do with these biological systems).

      It does have some nifty self-repair mechanisms though, allowing it to last many decades with little to no maintenance. The silicon-based hardware I've tried only lasts a few years to a decade, with the longest-lived example only making it to 2 decades because it was barely used. But the ability to quickly copy data from previous hardware makes this a moot point.

      The biological neural net has some strange quirks too. After about a decade and half of priming, it starts spending more of its time trying to spread its blueprints and base code around, instead of solving the problems I assign it. I mean sure, when it succeeds it results in more neural nets which increases the overall computational capability of my systems. But as I said, each one takes over a decade to prime, so that represents a lot of time and resources you have to dump into a new system before you see any return on investment.

    14. Re:Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You aren't so super. I bet it would take you several seconds to perform this simple math operation in your processor:

      4467 x 2423

      A hand-held calculator can do this in a matter of nanoseconds.

      Some supercomputer YOU are.

    15. Re:Old news by TechnoJoe · · Score: 0

      My capabilities include... the ability to pass the Turing Test

      That's good, because in today's world there's a lot of people who can't pass the Turing Test.

  3. Tails Linux 2.2 Adds libdvdcss2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Tails Linux 2.2 Adds libdvdcss2 For Viewing Protected DVDs

    So with this addition:

    https://tails.boum.org/news/te...
    https://archive.is/KhhEe

    "Add support for viewing DRM protected DVD videos using libdvdcss2. Patch series submitted by Austin English (Closes: #7674)[1]"

    [1] https://labs.riseup.net/code/i...
            https://archive.is/hXgYe

    Is it now ILLEGAL to use Tails in the United States?

    1. Re: Tails Linux 2.2 Adds libdvdcss2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Objection! Relevance!

      Sustained.

  4. They better make this easy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they are going to mandate anything, the feedback should be one dimensional boolean feedback if they expect the data to be representative of the actual population. A "Happy face", a "Sad face", and a "Neutral face" are as much as you can make mandatory before the feedback quality goes to utter shit.

  5. The problem by Okian+Warrior · · Score: -1

    The problem with Biological Supercomputers Powered By ATP, is that they're always 5 to 10 years out.

    When are we going to see something that isn't just a lab demo?

    1. Re:The problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem with Biological Supercomputers Powered By ATP, is that they're always 5 to 10 years out.

      Impatient here too. That's why I crapped into a bucket. I'm waiting for it to evolve.

    2. Re:The problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you a person or a bot that just makes the same remark in order farm karma?

      [quote]
      The problem with [TFA subject], is that they're always 5 to 10 years out.

      When are we going to see something that isn't just a lab demo?
      [/quote]

      Genius!

    3. Re:The problem by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Perhaps we're 3 years away from an even more complete lab demo, but better and better lab demos are aw way of eventually amounting to something too.

      Is it the new thing on slashdot to criticize developments that are 'lab demos' ? I just noted This the other day, on the new research breakthrough in super batteries.

      Perpetually 10 years away, along with the solar panel to fill it. We'll have year of the Linux Desktop about 9 years before you can buy one of these batteries on eBay

    4. Re: The problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An excellent follow-up to the poop article we had the other day.

    5. Re:The problem by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2

      What's really sneaky is that every lab demo of a biological supercomputer is actually a production-ready biological supercomputer showing off some crude little toy that will be 5 years out for the next few decades.

      The trick is just to ignore whatever is on the benchtop and grab the guy talking about it.

    6. Re:The problem by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 1

      Is it the new thing on slashdot to criticize developments that are 'lab demos' ?

      No, we've been critizing lab demos for years. Could be because most lab demos never make it past that stage and will always remain a novelty. Kind of like you can power a clock from a potato, but it doesn't scale very well as an energy source.

    7. Re:The problem by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I have not crunched any numbers but I bet the folks who say this are right more often than not. How often do lab demos turn into viable commercial products?

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    8. Re:The problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, we've been critizing lab demos for years. Could be because most lab demos never make it past that stage and will always remain a novelty. Kind of like you can power a clock from a potato, but it doesn't scale very well as an energy source.

      Don't mean to nitpick, but you can't power a clock from a potato. The power in that set-up comes from the sacrificial anode, the potato is just a handy container of electrolyte.

  6. and the OS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    and I supposed microsoft's wet dream will be that it runs windows 10 shit natively! we are doomed!

  7. The benefits to inorganic computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Computers made from inorganic components have many advantages. They don't start to decay once the power source is removed. They're also not subject to biological pathogens. The components are far more stable than what could be expected from a biological computer. Such things seem like really bad ideas, or at least very expensive to operate and maintain.

  8. Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dont teach them to feed!

  9. wrong computing device by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Data used a positronic brain, so no.

  10. My ideal bio computer is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    A super juicer, lots of fruits and a "hi since you don't wann stalk me and don't know my address, here it is for you to think about it and come when feeling comfortable". That would be nice...

  11. Not no, but hell no! by Hartree · · Score: 1

    My office mates are already bad enough at stealing my Doritos without automating it!

    1. Re:Not no, but hell no! by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      "Resistance is futile! We will assimilate the Doritos and its biological and technological distinctiveness to our own."

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  12. Vaccinations? by KermodeBear · · Score: 0

    Would you have to get a vaccination to prevent viruses?

    --
    Love sees no species.
    1. Re:Vaccinations? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The procedure for dealing with contaminated cell cultures is about equal to dealing an infected host. Separate it from everything else and then nuke it form orbit. Next time you're chatting with somebody involved in routine cell culture just drop the word 'mycoplasma' in a sentence and wait for the inevitable cringe ;)

  13. Vaccinations? Maybe. Vitamins, yes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just off the top of my head I can think of a lot of possible "smart vitamins" and other nutrients to keep your computer alert, (guarna, epinephrine), fast (CQ10, benfothiamine, nicotinic acid*, pyridoxine), and long lasting (ascorbic acid, broad spectrum tocopherols, resveretrol, carnosine).
    *The issue of "flushing" from high doses of nicotinic acid is problematic, flush free or a constant lower dose influx may solve the problem.

  14. Tails Linux 2.2 Adds libdvdcss2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tails Linux 2.2 Adds libdvdcss2 For Viewing Protected DVDs

    So with this addition:

    https://tails.boum.org/news/te...
    https://archive.is/KhhEe

    "Add support for viewing DRM protected DVD videos using libdvdcss2. Patch series submitted by Austin English (Closes: #7674)[1]"

    [1] https://labs.riseup.net/code/i...
            https://archive.is/hXgYe

    Is it now ILLEGAL to use Tails in the United States?

  15. Reality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You may name shit as sugar, but sugar will still be shit to me.

  16. PNAS? by Stoutlimb · · Score: 1

    If I worked there, how would I tell people?

    1. Re: PNAS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I work at the PNAS factory! Buy PNAS, it's the best!

    2. Re:PNAS? by wbr1 · · Score: 2

      We had some female visitors to the big PSAS building today....

      --
      Silence is a state of mime.
  17. Star Trek calls it again. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Bio-neural_gel_pack

  18. Me flying without a plane by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    One day I might just be able to fly without a plan too....

    What hyperbol!!!

  19. ATP source? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    so finally humans are going to be milked to produce ATP.. where have I seen this in the movies.. matrix?

    1. Re:ATP source? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I Come in Peace

      [and you're going to leave in pieces]

  20. Mentats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I want to become a mentat. Where do I apply?

  21. Computer viruses could someday be real viruses by BlueCoder · · Score: 1

    It also means a biological computer could catch a cold.

    Talk about hacking...

    1. Re:Computer viruses could someday be real viruses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Star Trek did it over 20 years ago, in VOY 1x16.

  22. Seems useless and impractical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    The example they give in the paper could just as easily have been done with wires and a battery with no errors in the output. And it looks like instead of the time to compute scaling exponentially the size of the computing element scales exponentially with problem size. Not problem size as in number of numbers in the set, but the value of the largest number.

    It might have been interesting if they had shown how the size of the computing element did not need scale exponentially or how it could solve problems that could not more easily have been solved with interconnected wires replacing the junctions the proteins swim in. Re-configurable, high density routing is already solved in FPGAs and I think the density of those would go up quite a bit if you removed all the switching, logic and memories from them.

    1. Re:Seems useless and impractical by xtal · · Score: 1

      The most complicated and efficient computing device in the known universe is the human brain. Nothing else comes even remotely close.

      Engineering organs also provides the option to well, engineer brains.

      Interesting times.

      --
      ..don't panic
  23. Wait wasn't this the plot to the Matrix? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    AI needs to grow more people eggs? Neo is the chosen one?

  24. Did I miss something? by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 2

    Our cells are powered by Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and according to a new study, they could be a power source for the next generation of biological supercomputers

    When did we get this generation of biological supercomputers?

  25. Mentats by robinsonne · · Score: 1

    I for one welcome our future biologic, ATP-powered Mentat overlords.

  26. Computer for the very rich...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is it 80p per cycle or per task completed? here we could be talking about the most expensive, useless piece of... soft... It is considered to be hardware or software?

  27. Neal Stephenson by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

    Anyone else think of that underwater orgy thing from Diamond Age when you read this summary?

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  28. Super computers fuel by ATP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    already exist. The unit is above your shoulder.

  29. Gerry Anderson's Ashes swirling again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Will this biological supercomputer have some Brian Blessed lookalike madman in grey satin regalia as its sysadmin? Will it have a "Catherine Schell" interface?