Chemists in Japan report development of the world's first DNA molecule made almost entirely of artificial parts. The finding could lead to improvements in gene therapy, futuristic nano-sized computers, and other high-tech advances, they say. Their study is scheduled for the July 23 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

First DNA molecule made almost entirely of artificial parts

Brain implants are here, and they're making people happy. It'll probably still be a while before you can neurointerface directly with the internet or your friends and lovers, but psychologists are testing implantable brain 'pacemakers' that regulate brain activity and so far appear really useful for treating the most stubborn forms of depression. We reported earlier on the Soletra implant, but there are many more.

Mad Neuroscience: Brain Implants Instead of Prozac

Brain-computer interfaces have been kicking around for a few years now, but they're relatively slow and unwieldy, which kind of puts a damper on world-domination plans -- the guy with the keyboard would probably be well into the missile-launch sequence by the time you've strapped on your dork-helmet. That might be slowly changing, though, as Caltech researchers are working on a robotic brain-computer interface, which can currently be implanted directly into non-human primate brains and move itself around to optimize readings. Although the MEMS-based motor system that actually moves the electrodes is still being developed, the software to do the job is ready to go, and the whole system being presented this week at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Pasadena. Robot-android chimps? Sure, that's just what we need.

Researchers develop robotic brain-computer interface - Engadget

How much would you pay to have a small memory chip implanted in your brain if it guaranteed you would never again forget a face or a name?

I wonder how intellectual property will apply to this

Human memory: memory chip could mean we never forget

"Augmented Cognition," the Darpa program to build computer interfaces that adapt to their users' brains, has officially run its course.� But efforts to build mind-reading PCs continue throughout the military establishment.�
Augmented Cognition relies on the idea that people have more than one kind of working memory, and more than one kind of attention; there are separate slots in the mind for things written, things heard and things seen. By monitoring how taxed those areas of the brain are, it should be possible to change a computer's display to compensate. If people are getting too much visual information, send them a text alert. If they reading too much at once, present some of the data visually -- in a chart or map.

Pentagon's Mind-Reading Computers Replicate | Danger Room from Wired.com

A particularly wild project is Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics, or SyNAPSE. "The program will develop a brain inspired electronic 'chip' that mimics that function, size, and power consumption of a biological cortex," DARPA promises us. "If successful, the program will provide the foundations for functional machines to supplement humans in many of the most demanding situations faced by warfighters today" -- like getting usable information out of video feeds, and starting tasks. The agency is looking to spend $3 million next year, to get started on its faux brain effort. My guess is that it will take considerably more cash to get it done.

DARPA 2009: Brains-on-a-Chip, Transparent Displays | Danger Room from Wired.com

Director of rehabilitation engineering services at NHS Lothian in Britain, David Gow, believes his new i-Limb system (bionic arm, hand combo) from Touch Bionics is so superior to biological limbs that it may have to "scale down its power." We've been waiting our whole lives to hear those sweet words.

it will be interesting when this becomes a type of cosmetic option.

I-Limb Bionic Hand Gets Upgradable Bionic Arm - Medgadget - www.medgadget.com

Image: Bryn Nelson
Bryn Nelson
Columnist
A tiny assembly line that powers the whip-like tail of sperm could be harnessed to send future nanobots or other tiny medical devices zooming around the human body, according to a preliminary research report.

Scientists look to sperm to power nanobots - Frontiers- msnbc.com

That might sound pretty awesome, but the prospect of brain-controlled virtual joysticks has some scientists worried that games might end up controlling our brains.

Several makers of brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs -- devices that facilitate operating a computer by thought alone -- claim the technology is poised to jump from the medical sector into the consumer gaming world in 2008.

Companies including Emotiv Systems and NeuroSky say they've released BCI-based software-development kits. Gaming companies may release BCI games next year, but many scientists worry that users brains' might be subject to negative effects.

For example, the devices sometimes force users to slow down their brain waves. Afterward, users have reported trouble focusing their attention.

...

Fairclough envisions a "brain security network with passwords and firewalls." He says, "I think it's important that the kind of electronic security we normally have for our computers should translate over to the BCI area."

BCI - Brain to Control Games Directly, Maybe Vice Versa

File this one under "you cannot be serious" until we see pictorial evidence, but the North Denver News is reporting that a local man has had thumb-altering surgery so as to better use the touchscreen on his iPhone.

You know, most people would just opt for the phone with bigger (or real) buttons... What a moron.

Man gets thumbs surgically