An Electrifying Sight
A Wheaton, Ill., startup founded by an ophthalmologist is working on an artificial silicon retina that could restore sight to those suffering from macular degeneration-the leading cause of blindness in people older than 65. The device is a silicon wafer 3 millimeters across covered with photodiodes. With the wafer implanted in the retina, the photodiodes convert light into electrical impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. The photodiodes will be packed so densely that the “resolution will theoretically be as good as normal vision,” says Optobionics founder Alan Chow; Stanford University’s Nanofabrication Center is collaborating on the miniaturization.
The implant has induced retinal activity in animals, but studies with human volunteers are more than a year away. Because the photodiodes are sensitive to infrared as well as visible light, Chow says these first subjects may report some odd sightings, such as beams shooting from a TV remote control.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.
And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
Google DeepMind’s new generative model makes Super Mario–like games from scratch
Genie learns how to control games by watching hours and hours of video. It could help train next-gen robots too.
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.