Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., December 26, 2007 Tevet 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 14:45 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine
Professor Eshel Ben-Jacob and Dr. Itay Baruchi seen at Tel Aviv University. (Nir Kafri)
del.icio.us
Digg It!  new
Last update - 09:44 17/12/2007
Israeli research among '50 most significant scientific breakthroughs in 2007'
By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: science, memory, Israel 

A groundbreaking discovery in the field of artificial intelligence, conducted by two Tel Aviv University academics, and Israeli research into treating Parkinson's disease, have been selected as among the past year's greatest advancements in science by a top U.S. periodical.

Scientific American magazine placed Professor Eshel Ben-Jacob and Dr. Itay Baruchi's creation of a type of organic memory chip on its list of the year's 50 most significant scientific discoveries.

In their research, the Israeli academics used nerve cells taken from rodents, and managed to create a simple method that simulates how information or memories are stored in humans and animals. Scientists hope that their work could lead to the development of computers that will be able to think creatively. Another Tel Aviv University researcher, Professor Beka Solomon, was also listed by Scientific American for her research in treating Parkinson's disease. "Computers that exist today are passive," Ben-Jacob explained. "You run a program and everything goes according to what is already input. In contrast, when a person undertakes a task you know he is going to use his personal judgment in accordance to circumstances that may develop."
Advertisement
For their research, Ben-Jacob and Baruchi mixed millions of neurons - nerve cells from the brain stems of rats - and created a type of "brain in a Petri dish." They then cast the fluid neurons evenly over an array of electrodes so that they could record their electrical signatures and the interaction of the neurons.

Neurons communicate with one another by electrically charged pulses. Each cell receives signals from many other neurons and reacts by creating their own. To the researchers' surprise, the communication between the neurons was not random, but adhered to specific structures that repeated themselves. Chemical stimulation caused certain electrical reactions, and this repeated itself.

"This dish has millions of neurons that can be imagined as millions of people each sending each other SMS messages," Ben-Jacob said. "Each person is connected to 100,000 others; each second he is sending a message to 100,000 people and receiving messages from 100,000 people. When we applied a certain chemical, neurons began to send messages in specific routes; independent correlation and synchronization between the cells developed. We can make the cells communicate in certain patterns that we control, and that is, in essence, memory."

What is the memory that the rodents' cells store? According to Ben-Jacob, the simple lab-created memories are not specific like those of humans. "The system does not remember 'father' or 'mother,' it is not a concrete memory. But here we have a module of inter-cell communication that can be used to create a module that carries meaning." Ben-Jacob's and Baruchi's findings have already improved scientists understanding of how the thought process occurs and memories are stored in the brain. They hope that in a relatively short time, their neurons system will be used in other experiments, such as checking how medications affect the brain.

In the distant future, they hope to achieve much more ambitious and far-reaching goals: Connecting between a regular computer and a network of neurons, creating a biological computer. Such a computer will be entirely different from today's static computers. It will identify senses, interact with its surroundings and even make independent decisions. In effect, the computer will have an autonomous brain with which it will function harmoniously.

"The dream is to create a system that on the one hand you can control, and on the other will still surprise, it will know how to improve itself and do things you had not programmed it in advance," Ben-Jacob said. "These hybrid computers won't look like laptops, but will be made-up of chips with different capabilities from computers" Ben-Jacob stressed Baruchi's importance to the research. "It's his project," he said. "Itay took a chance, chose a revolutionary subject and researched it while having to work for a living. Nowhere in the world are there such students."

Related articles:
  • Three Israeli firms top the Fast-500 ranking
  • E=mc2 sounded better in Yiddish
  • Israel among top 10 countries selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us
    Aliyah from Iran
    A group of 40 new immigrants from Iran touched down in Israel on Tuesday.
    Race to White House
    Top Republican candidate Mike Huckabee supports dialogue with Iran.
      1.   Israel is Awesome! 06:07  |  Gina 17/12/07
      2.   Figure out the results from such minds if they 06:25  |  Joseph E . 17/12/07
      3.   while having to work for a living 06:52  |  Dan 17/12/07
      4.   The World Fund Fatah-Hamas Instead of these 3 Brillants Minds 08:22  |  Joseph E . 17/12/07
      5.   And this is the only reason Russian and German wants the Jews bac 09:40  |  e.m 17/12/07
      6.   what about the strike 09:50  |  student 17/12/07
      7.   Israeli research. 10:01  |  David Nigel Braham 17/12/07
      8.   # 1 Gina 10:11  |  Joseph E . 17/12/07
      9.   My Computer ALREADY has a " mind" of its own 10:25  |  Klaudia 17/12/07
      10.   We`re proud of you and your staff as well 10:26  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/12/07
      11.   For Joseph E, who might enjoy reading Thomas Gray # 4 11:10  |  Clickfool 17/12/07
      12.   #9: Many bugs are artificially-created marketing tools 11:47  |  Global Citizen 17/12/07
      13.   This is not the council-for-higher-education... 12:05  |  Esther 17/12/07
      14.   #13 Esther............ A few questions 12:34  |  Ari ben Yisrael 17/12/07
      15.   AM YISROEL CHAI.despite haters past and present 12:48  |  PETER SM 17/12/07
      16.   Slow News Day, Amen! 12:58  |  FOX 17/12/07
      17.   Congratulations! 13:00  |  Conroy 17/12/07
      18.   Animal rights activists should seriously investigate the 13:07  |  lakshmi 17/12/07
      19.   clickstupid is jealous 13:07  |  goldenberg 17/12/07
      20.   #11 Clicfool 13:07  |  Sarah 17/12/07
      21.   While Israel revolutionises ways to save lives, Palis destroy... 13:19  |  Nannette 17/12/07
      22.   Clickfool, Pal education 13:33  |  FOX 17/12/07
      23.   Clickfool the anti-semite 13:35  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 17/12/07
      24.   #11 13:39  |  Moshe 17/12/07
      25.   Can We Send Some Artificial Inteligence To Talkbackers Keyboards? 13:39  |  dyinglikeflies 17/12/07
      26.   Maybe that`s why Israel wants Russians 13:40  |  Tim 17/12/07
      27.   LAKSHMI .Even by your standards that`s a seriously 13:42  |  PETER SM 17/12/07
      28.   #19 13:45  |  Moshe 17/12/07
      29.   For Goldenberg, who thinks I am jealous # 17 13:46  |  Clickfool 17/12/07
      30.   CFOOL Hamas announced AGAIN yesterday they would NEVER recognise 13:49  |  PETER SM 17/12/07
      31.   goldenberg, `clickstupid`, & trolls... 13:56  |  Stan 17/12/07
      32.   Clickfool is not jealous! 14:12  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 17/12/07
      33.   18contd.,the cries,squeals and screams of those unfortunate 14:22  |  lakshmi 17/12/07
      34.   dYINGLIKEFLIES, regarding Clicky 14:24  |  FOX 17/12/07
      35.   29: CF provides ever more enjoyment 14:26  |  David Teich 17/12/07
      36.   Lackshmi , RAT STEAKS. 14:31  |  FOX 17/12/07
      37.   Tim, nice thought but #26 14:35  |  FOX 17/12/07
      38.   What a dreadful liar you are, Stan # 31 14:38  |  Clickfool 17/12/07
      39.   Lackshmi you hypocrite 14:39  |  FOX 17/12/07
      40.   FOX Rat sanndwiches are available in Viet Nam as well 14:41  |  PETER SM 17/12/07
      41.   Thanks for the chuckle, David Teich # 35 14:45  |  Clickfool 17/12/07
      42.   PETER SM. Lackshmi`s negativity 15:02  |  FOX 17/12/07
      43.   FOX #22 On your misleading post re:education. 15:04  |  Hubal 17/12/07
      44.   #29 15:42  |  Moshe 17/12/07
      45.   The correct way to quantitize British and Israeli 15:52  |  17 17/12/07
      46.   Clickfool # 41 and and Nobels Awards 15:59  |  Eli 17/12/07
      47.   Klaudia, you have a bad day today 16:13  |  S 17/12/07
      48.   Yes #29 but then GRATEbrittin also produced 16:17  |  Ari ben Yisrael 17/12/07
      49.   Obviously, report put up and paid for by the mossad 16:21  |  Pssd off Arab 17/12/07
      50.   Conroy and the Philly Jewish community 16:22  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/12/07
      51.   Clickfool 16:26  |  Jasmine Murphy 17/12/07
      52.   Esther #13 I don`t believe you wrote that! 16:28  |  S 17/12/07
      53.   Conroy_ Go Eagles! Phillies! Sixers! Regards 16:35  |  Eli 17/12/07
      54.   pssd off Arab 16:40  |  markinlondon 17/12/07
      55.   3 Dan. Methinks thou goest too far... 16:42  |  bat yam 17/12/07
      56.   # 49 Pssd off Arab 16:45  |  17 17/12/07
      57.   Re Ari #14 16:48  |  Esther 17/12/07
      58.   good to see that `massive welfare` is leading to something other 16:50  |  truth 17/12/07
      59.   Re S #52 17:01  |  Esther 17/12/07
      60.   Jasmine Murphy_Check With Clickfool How Many 17:02  |  Eli 17/12/07
      61.   CHEESE ANYONE?? 17:07  |  STRANGELOVE 17/12/07
      62.   Clickfool (#29) Alexander Graham Bell - O that is nice 17:14  |  Gil 17/12/07
      63.   Re Click #11 17:22  |  Esther 17/12/07
      64.   Israels gifts to the world 17:24  |  Petra 17/12/07
      65.   29Shame on you clicky. The great British scientists you mentioned 17:25  |  another physicist 17/12/07
      66.   ClickFool (#29) Bell Again - O looky looky 17:28  |  Gil 17/12/07
      67.   Re Click #29 17:29  |  Esther 17/12/07
      68.   Esther#52, the informed. 17:31  |  S 17/12/07
      69.   Clickfool and Eli,Clickfool quite right in mentioning the British 17:35  |  lakshmi 17/12/07
      70.   For Gil in Haifa # 62 17:50  |  Clickfool 17/12/07
      71.   #29 Goldenberg, I agree with Clicky, he`s not jealous... 17:51  |  Conroy 17/12/07
      72.   Congratulations!!! Proud of you,The lights and 17:55  |  TOMY 17/12/07
      73.   #11 Clicky,Palestinian children? geneuses?? 18:03  |  TOMY 17/12/07
      74.   As was expected,Clicky,Ester,Global citizen 18:11  |  TOMY 17/12/07
      75.   BECAUSE ISRAEL GETS BEST EQUIPMENT AND KNOW-HOW FROM US 18:11  |  Drogba 17/12/07
      76.   Petra #64 Such vile racism 18:13  |  Hubal 17/12/07
      77.   # 72 TOMY 18:15  |  tbora 17/12/07
      78.   lakshmock,I missed you!!! You are here 18:22  |  TOMY 17/12/07
      79.   Hubal the fact remains 18:33  |  FOX