Silicon is no longer the only way to think. In a Swiss lab, scientists are teaching clusters of living human neurons to compute, cultivating tiny brain organoids wired to electrodes that flicker across a monitor like a living oscilloscope. This new field, called biocomputing or “wetware,” reimagines the processor as something grown rather than built.⁠ ⁠ At FinalSpark, the process begins with skin cells reprogrammed into stem cells, then coaxed into neurons that self-organize into organoids containing about 10,000 cells. In nutrient baths, these mini-brains communicate through electrode networks. When a researcher presses a key, neural spikes appear on-screen, a biological echo of ones and zeros. Scientists are even experimenting with dopamine “rewards” to strengthen desired activity patterns, mimicking the brain’s own learning chemistry.⁠ ⁠ Fred Jordan, FinalSpark’s co-founder, says biological neurons are about a million times more energy-efficient than artificial ones, suggesting living processors could one day power data centers using a fraction of today’s electricity.⁠ ⁠ The biggest challenges are biological. Organoids lack blood vessels, so keeping them alive is difficult, and lifespans currently reach only four months. Some show a brief surge of activity before dying, a reminder that these are living systems, not machines.⁠ ⁠ Elsewhere, Cortical Labs taught neuron cultures to play Pong, while Johns Hopkins researchers use mini-brains to study disorders like Alzheimer’s. Ethicists are involved, and scientists stress that current organoids lack the complexity needed for consciousness. Most agree wetware will complement, not replace, silicon, opening new frontiers in computing and neuroscience.⁠ ⁠ #tech #biocomputing #ai #wetware #organoids #neuromorphic #energy #ethics #futureofcomputing