Re:Mind-controlled transgene expression by a wireless-powere...
by apl on Sunday November 16, 2014 @09:05AM
(#8614215)
Ugh, yet another entry in the emerging genre of "We combined well-established techniques in order to generate a vaguely sci-fi-sounding scenario." Other noteworthy examples:
It's junk science, and there's a reason why it's published in Nature Communications, Scientific Reports, or PLoS One. Every individual advancement (brain interfaces, genetic expression control, optogenetics) must be acknowledged as groundbreaking; this stuff, however, shouldn't excite.
University PR departments do love it, though. Makes for great press releases.
1) Brain-to-brain control: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjourna...
2) Rats controlling each other across large distances: http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130228/srep01319/full/srep01...
It's junk science, and there's a reason why it's published in Nature Communications, Scientific Reports, or PLoS One. Every individual advancement (brain interfaces, genetic expression control, optogenetics) must be acknowledged as groundbreaking; this stuff, however, shouldn't excite.
University PR departments do love it, though. Makes for great press releases.