OpenWorm: a roundworm connectome drives a Lego robot
🔬 Achieved by science
OpenWorm open-source project · Global · 2011–2014
The full 302-neuron connectome of C. elegans was written into a Lego robot, which showed approach/avoid behaviour.
VerdictThe first ‘uploaded’ (minimal) nervous system.
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Blue Brain / Human Brain Project
🏛️ Official record
EPFL, Markram (2005) · EU €1B flagship (2013–2023) · Switzerland · EU · 2005–2023
Rebuilt a rat cortical column on a supercomputer, aiming at whole-brain simulation.
VerdictWhole-brain simulation wasn’t achieved; work shifted to brain atlases and neuromorphic computing.
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DishBrain: 800,000 neurons learn Pong
🔬 Achieved by science
Cortical Labs / Monash Univ, Kagan et al. (Neuron 2022) · Australia, Melbourne · 2022
Human and mouse neurons in a dish, wired to an electrode array, learned Pong within 5 minutes.
VerdictBiological neurons ‘entering’ a video game.
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Nectome ‘100% fatal’ brain preservation
📜 On record
Y Combinator-incubated (2018) · USA · 2018
Sold aldehyde-stabilised cryopreservation pitched at ‘future upload’, requiring it be done at euthanasia; MIT later ended the collaboration.
VerdictA commercial concept with no scientific path.
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The 2045 Initiative
📜 On record
Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Itskov · Russia · 2011–
Staged goals: robotic avatar → brain transplant → artificial brain → hologram avatar.
VerdictA vision.
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MetaBOC brain-organoid robot
🔬 Achieved by science
Tianjin Univ · Southern Univ of Science and Technology · China · 2024
A human brain organoid controlled a robot to avoid obstacles and grasp via a chip.
VerdictA landmark Chinese ‘biological brain-machine’ result.