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Enzo-chan t1_jdcca3k wrote

If I could only receive a buck for each time I've already read the word "revolutionize" in newspapers about researches surrounding new potential techs, techniques and science breakthroughs, I'd be a billionaire richer than Musk.

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Pleuel t1_jdchjtq wrote

But instead only Elon got a buck every time he claimed to have "revolutionalized" sth. 🤑

Edit: Just went for an easy pun, didn't mean to trigger any evangelists. I am sorry for your emotions.

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Ishpersonguy t1_jde3jsm wrote

Oh man I knew this comment would bring out Elon's Reply Guys before I even finished reading it lol

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Artanthos t1_jdejcdy wrote

You mean like sparking revolutions in electronic payments, electric vehicle production, commercialization of space, and global internet access?

He’s not the only player involved in any of these industries, but he was the first to achieve large scale commercial success in all of them.

−10

ValyrianJedi t1_jdcv57m wrote

I mean, he's kind of revolutionized or helped revolutionize everything from phone books, to paying for things, to electric vehicles, to home energy, to freaking space travel.

−31

Caracalla81 t1_jdcvy3s wrote

Well, he owned the work of the people who did at least.

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Artanthos t1_jdejfoc wrote

Work that would not have been done without him.

−2

Caracalla81 t1_jdelk85 wrote

Without his money maybe. He just happened to be attached to it.

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Artanthos t1_jdelukb wrote

You don’t get one without the other.

−2

Caracalla81 t1_jdeml3u wrote

Ditto water and giardia... unless you boil it. Turns out that both water and money not only can exist without parasites, but work better!

3

mymemesnow t1_jddk83v wrote

But he is an engineer and have helped to design many things.

He’s mostly just a businessman, but not solely. There’s lots of things to criticize him for, but he has done pretty incredible things counted together.

−9

ValyrianJedi t1_jdcwx74 wrote

If one guy spends $50 million on factory equipment to make shoes, then pays people to work in said factory, I'd say he definitely holds the lions share of responsibility for the shoes being made... When its a company doing something, yeah, the person funding and running the company is absolutely responsible for what it does.

−18

GothicSilencer t1_jdcxj7f wrote

The analogy falls apart a little with figures like Musk and Jobs, though. It's not just the factory, they hired inventors to invent stuff. Literally someone else's ideas making them rich. They just partnered other people's ideas with the means of production.

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Psychological_Ad_633 t1_jdcyxhg wrote

Do you have a source you can send? Not to discredit your points, but I've read it on reddit several times and never seen links. Would be interested in reading that because I loathe the dude.

2

GothicSilencer t1_jdd0ae6 wrote

???

A source on how Steve Jobs marketed the works of Steve Wozniak? Pretty sure that's common knowledge.

Or how PayPal evolved out of an internet bank Elon WAS involved with, but they purchased the internet payment business developed by others, or how SpaceX' Falcon rockets only work thanks to Tom Mueller? Or is it more relevant that every Tesla model since 2008 has been designed by one man, whose name isn't Elon Musk?

Like, this is a well-trod road. It's not groundbreaking news to say Elon didn't design the things he's credited for making.

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ValyrianJedi t1_jdcy85i wrote

Not really. If you're the one providing both direction, infrastructure, and tremendous amounts of money to make something happen then you're largely responsible for it happening.

−12

orrk256 t1_jdefpc1 wrote

to put it as people did 100 years ago, if you own the means of production, aka the capital, you profit from the work of those who don't have capital, and the best part is when the people who have capital because they inherit it, they just accumulate more of it.

Damn, someone should write a book on this and help found some scientific movement to study this, we could call it "Capital" and make the study of the market economics!

1

ValyrianJedi t1_jdeihfm wrote

Capital is just as important as labor is to a business running, and most people's labor is utterly useless by itself, and frequently not able to be done in the first place without the capital and infrastructure provided by the owner... You people all seem to have some silly notion that it's all about labor and labor is all that matters, when it just isn't.

1

Caracalla81 t1_jdd5y4q wrote

> responsible for what it does

I have sad news about how corporations work. You better sit down...

6

ValyrianJedi t1_jdd686x wrote

Dealing with that is pretty much what I do for a living, so I think I'm fairly up to date on how corporations work.

1

Caracalla81 t1_jdd8any wrote

You say that and then you say "the person funding and running the company is absolutely responsible for what it does". So you can see how I'm confused.

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ValyrianJedi t1_jdd8idp wrote

Because they are... This may be news to you, but a company without funding doesn't do anything, and a company without solid direction and leadership doesn't do anything for long.

0

Caracalla81 t1_jdd9nzv wrote

I'm having a little fun here. I know you're talking about "responsible" in the sense that they get the profit. I'm saying "responsible" in the more typical sense of responsibility. Like being responsible if your train derailed and dumped poison everywhere. That's the joke. ;)

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ValyrianJedi t1_jddbhd4 wrote

They are though. Especially in situations like that... For anything environment related the corporate veil doesn't exist, and shareholders and executives can be held personally liable in both criminal and civil cases... Like, people routinely hold owners and executives responsible for what their companies do... When Tesla does something shitty everyone acts like Elon Musk is 110% behind it and responsible for it. But then when Tesla does something good they all act like he has no responsibility for the company's actions and results.

1

Caracalla81 t1_jdddx76 wrote

Yeah, go cause a train wreck and then compare what happens to you to what ends up happening to the shareholders of Norfolk Southern. You'll lose more than your investments, let me tell ya!

5

I-baLL t1_jdd4hjm wrote

How? He got fired from Paypal so he didn't revolutionize paying for stuff as much as he was trying to get in the way of it. How did he revolutionize phone books? He didn't do much for electric vehicles. Tesla has been doing well but to attribute that to him personally I is bizarre. And regarding space travel, sure he works on SpaceX and reusable rockets are a great idea but what did he personally contribute? The idea to use ipad-like touchscreens in an environment where physical controls will be better in an emergency? Or compromising the design of a rocket to make a reference to the movie "The Dictator"? It's becoming more and more apparent that Elon's companies have had successes in spite of him rather than because of him. It's even worse now since he's taken engineers away from his other companies and is making them work on Twitter instead.

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ValyrianJedi t1_jdd56by wrote

If you aren't aware of how funding and running a company makes you responsible what the company achieves I really don't know how to help you on that one... And acting like Tesla or SpaceX would have gotten where they are without him is a massive stretch. Acting like they did it in spite of him is just silly.

−3

DatSauceTho t1_jdcwsbf wrote

He revolutionized phone books? The thing that people stopped using like 15 years ago? Tf are you talking about?

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ValyrianJedi t1_jdcxilg wrote

Almost like they stopped using it for a reason or something... Yeah, the guy created the first online city guide that functioned as an online phone book, wrote the software himself, and grew it into a $300m company before selling to Compaq in 1999. Zip2 was the company... Thats where he got the money to make x/paypal. Which is where he got the money to start tesla and SpaceX

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DatSauceTho t1_jdcyt4v wrote

A city guide is not a phone book. Nor is it the reason people stopped using them. But alright whatever.

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ValyrianJedi t1_jdczccf wrote

It was literally marketed as a replacement for phone books and functioned as a phone book with more information and resources.

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DatSauceTho t1_jdczr5a wrote

Yeah alright. But don’t say he revolutionized this thing or that thing. He didn’t. He came from a wealthy family, made more money, and invested in other companies that made even more money. Stop acting like this dude Toby Stark or something. This is the same dude that somehow found a way to make twitter an even bigger dumpster fire. So there’s that.

1

ValyrianJedi t1_jdd0cw3 wrote

So now you're jumping to some entirely different argument to complain about. Kinda sounds like you just weren't aware that zip2 existed and are now scrambling to refuse to admit you were wrong... Also having a really tough time figuring out how you think "he came from a wealthy family" means that he isn't Tony Stark... Think thats my cue to stop responding to you.

1

DatSauceTho t1_jdd2bh0 wrote

You’re reading comprehension is clearly shit. My whole point from the beginning is that he hasn’t revolutionized anything. That’s why I called Zip2 into question. No, I don’t know wtf that is or I wouldn’t have asked. But hey, if you enjoy publicly sucking off wealthy tax dodgers who take away from public funds and programs, by all means. Just do us all a favor and take it to twitter where that bullshit belongs.

I’m sure your idol will appreciate it.

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0reoSpeedwagon t1_jderv9s wrote

I mean, the fact that basically nobody remembers Zip2 in 2023 really speaks to just how revolutionary it was.

2

GenocidalGenie t1_jdcxdyk wrote

Citation needed

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ValyrianJedi t1_jdcxp1w wrote

For what? Zip2, X/PayPal, tesla, and SpaceX all have very readily available information on them

−1

GenocidalGenie t1_jddd0r2 wrote

He's certainly owned companies. Where's the revolution though?

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ValyrianJedi t1_jddhbfn wrote

Zip2 changed the way the businesses and customers found each other entirely. It was literally the replacement to the phone book, and first place where if you wanted to find a business you could just search categories in an online database and find numbers and addresses... PayPal impact was pretty obvious... Tesla breathed life into a virtually nonexistent EV market and has held like 3/3rds or more of the market share for over a decade. It's also at the forefront of both home and grid level energy storage... Then SpaceX literally privatized the space industry and changed the way that space vehicles made.

1

DopamineDeprivation t1_jdcqtrq wrote

He gets paid for actually revolutionizing things. Look at his stock incentives for Tesla. He put his fortune on the line for SpaceX. If his endeavors didn’t work, he wouldn’t be rich.

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BookOfWords t1_jdcvv8l wrote

On projects paid for with public money, founded and developed by other, more talented people. They aren't 'his' endeavours, it isn't 'his' money and he doesn't dereve either to be acknowledged or rewarded to the extent that he has.

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CommunismDoesntWork t1_jddagpj wrote

Stop spreading the lie that Elon didn't found Tesla and SpaceX. First, SpaceX was soley founded by Elon and he's been the CEO and chief engineer since inception.

Tesla was Co founded by 5 people. Elon musk and JB straubel were independently going to start an EV company using tech from AC propulsion. AC propulsion then introduced them to Mark and Martain because they wanted to do the same thing, and the 4 decided to team up and musk provided the initial funding for Tesla. Tesla was nothing but a piece of paper when they teamed up. The courts decided all of them get to call themselves founders because there's no hard and fast rule of what counts as being a founder.

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Tschernoblyat t1_jddhrus wrote

No one gives a fuck who founded a company. That comment was about him basically being irrelevant to the inventions but still claiming them as his while sucking his own dick

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cyberFluke t1_jddu64b wrote

I'm sorry, can you say that again? I can't hear you properly with that dick in your mouth.

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CommunismDoesntWork t1_jddvzjp wrote

Stalin isn't going to suck your dick bro

−14

orrk256 t1_jdeduwc wrote

What does Stalin have to do with anything? also could you stop sucking Elon cock while you explain?

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CommunismDoesntWork t1_jdefd1g wrote

Can you stop sucking Marx cock for a second?

−3

orrk256 t1_jdeqs0c wrote

Look, I can't help that the field of economics was founded by the commies of Germany and France.

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[deleted] t1_jdcwkml wrote

[removed]

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justingod99 t1_jddqwox wrote

I’m guessing “Dat Sauce Tho” has done much better with his life.

Because using your metric, if you came from a lower-middle class or higher family you should be a millionaire. Are you?

−6

DatSauceTho t1_jdfxwer wrote

Wtf are you even talking about? lol touch grass

1

justingod99 t1_jdg7njz wrote

I’m sorry you can’t understand my comment. After reading your “wEAlthY FaMilY” comment, I tried to make my response as simple as possible.

How about this…Your dad gives you a sports car. Are you now automatically a nascar or F1 champion? Simple enough for ya bud?

Errrrr…..I mean: “Elon sucks because he’s rich!!!! Upvote me!”

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DatSauceTho t1_jdgh6us wrote

It is a little hard to understand you with Elon’s dick in your mouth. My bad.

1

justingod99 t1_jdh6btr wrote

Not sure what you mean. I don’t even like him.

Alas, unlike some people, my dislike for him doesn’t leave me oblivious to reality.

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DatSauceTho t1_jdiczex wrote

>Not sure what you mean. I don’t even like him.

Could’ve fooled me.

1

CommunismDoesntWork t1_jddayh4 wrote

Define wealthy? His dad was an engineer and mom a regular model (not super model). That's upper middle class at best. "But the emerald mine" his dad invested $40k of his life savings on a 50% stake in a mine and doubled his money over 10 years which barely beats the stock market.

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Isilmine t1_jddcxzd wrote

The problem I see with these Musk arguments on Reddit or elsewhere is that people involved choose to be very categorical. Truth, of course, is somewhere in between.

Is he a super genius visionary his disciples want us to think? No. But is he an absolute scum of the earth the other side insists? No, too.

He has his shortcomings, as we all do. But saying he’s the worst or being outraged by his actions is overreaction.

Even if he is a multimillionaires son, that’s usually not enough to succeed in life and become a billionaire he is. Or else there would be hell of a lot more billionaires in the world.

−15

Zergzapper t1_jddo786 wrote

Well he kinda is scum of the earth, his sexual scandals show hes willing to use power to abuse other, his reaction when he didnt get to use his toys to save the kid trapped in cave was to call their ultimate rescuer a pedophile. He fired and made fun of someones disability on his biggest stage. He IS a shitty person period

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6_oh_n8 t1_jddsbik wrote

Being a multimillionaire’s son is enough to succeed in life unfortunately. The rich are the scum of the earth

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Isilmine t1_jdmrovp wrote

Well, being richness is relative. If rich are the scum of the earth, most Americans and Western Europeans can be safely called scum of the earth by Russians and Central Asians.

And by succeeding I mean multiplying inherited wealth. Turning millions into billions. Not as common as people think.

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ValyrianJedi t1_jde3bvt wrote

If your dad's money was the only reason for your success then you wouldn't have 3,000x more money than your dad

−2

Ishpersonguy t1_jde510v wrote

Spoken like someone who supports a system of which they have zero idea (and zero interest in learning anyway) how it actually functions.

You would have to be the biggest, most incompetent fucking buffoon to fail at that point, my guy.

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ValyrianJedi t1_jde6u3z wrote

I have bachelors degrees in econ and business, a masters in, finance and a decade long career in finance, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say I understand how the system functions a hell of a lot better than you do.

0

orrk256 t1_jdeeho9 wrote

let me guess, you follow the Chicago school or it's derivations, because even the Kaynsians are adopting more and more "communist" ideas, because shocker, we have 50+ years to see this shit don't work as the neoliberal economists have said it would.

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ValyrianJedi t1_jdei0rs wrote

Right. We have the highest GDP in the world, the 5th highest median income in the world (with all the countries avove us being a fraction of a fraction our size), the highest median disposable income in the world, are the business capital of the world, the finance capital of the world, and the tech capital of the world have half of the best schools in the world, have have half of the best hospitals in the world, but we totally haven't been doing good economically for the last 50+ years.

−5

orrk256 t1_jdeqjtj wrote

And yet you have people dead because they froze to death, children who would go hungry if not for free school lunches, a poverty rate of over 30%, people living in cars while working. The world's largest prison population.

And to clear up some misunderstandings you seem to have, America generally ends up somewhere in the middle of global education standards, American Hospitals have worse outcomes compared to almost every other first world country, be it child death, or op/post-op complication, let alone the massive amount of people who can't afford basic medical attention.

It's nice to see you list off the great achievements of the wealthy, but that doesn't affect you, now does it?

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ValyrianJedi t1_jder8io wrote

Oof... Don't know if you just get too much of your info from reddit comments or are living in some fantasy world, but there isn't any point trying to argue with someone who is that separated from reality so think that doozy is where I stop responding to you.

−3

justingod99 t1_jdetic4 wrote

Good idea, his main Reddit community is an Antifa community.

−4

justingod99 t1_jdeni39 wrote

Also biggest provider of worldwide aid and biggest military. These morons have no idea. (and I love the “but Finland” argument lol)

Since everyone on Reddit hates America and refutes any evidence provided, maybe they could take a look at how Japan was doing before and after the US completely rebuilt them based ENTIRELY on our democracy. (Of note: We rebuilt them right after they surprised attacked us, murdering 2,400).

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Inflation-adjusted-per-capita-GDP-in-Japan-1870-2015-Data-between-1870-and-1989-are_fig1_317063273

−6

Ishpersonguy t1_jdjc48q wrote

And lord knows that has always meant so much for actual qualifications. I wonder what degrees the congressman asking if TikTok "connects to the home wifi network" have?

I don't give a shit what degrees you have. You have a vested interest in benefiting from a system and zero interest in the people suffering from it. That makes you nobody.

Besides, we've all seen business majors, buddy. Nobody's impressed. Well, except y'all, evidently.

1

justingod99 t1_jddrf31 wrote

No one gets as successful as he is without some merit. It’s just a circle jerk of hate for him here. Just like anything republican or religious. I prefer balance, but people here just want a sounding board and absolutely go batshit crazy when someone disagrees or offers a different opinion. I got banned from TwoXChromosomes for disagreeing with a poster who said “every” man has a rape fantasy. 🤷🏻

−3

justingod99 t1_jde2vor wrote

Case in point. Downvoted for preferring a balanced, nonpartisan analysis.

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Enzo-chan t1_jdd2myu wrote

Idk Rick, I don't know if I can agree with this(the part of revolutionize), he did several good things and some of his products do work pretty well(and others don't like the Boring's Company Vegas Loop), but he didn't exactly "revolutionize" anything yet.

Take the car company for example, Tesla still uses lithium-ion batteries which is the norm for any EVs today, we don't see an exclusive formulae of new batteries for Tesla that can make the energy density 5x-10x bigger than conventional batteries.

FSD is still a worse driver than your average human driver, dunno if he'll manage to make it work perfectly before all the LiDARs, Radars + Cameras that are being put on other self-drivings approaches. If he pull that, then Tesla will have a revolutionary product, but I take Elon's claims with a heavy grain of salt.

Internet via satellites is cool, but still can't compare itself to the one provided by optic fibers, so not a game-changer.

Reusable rockets whistl a quite impressive feat, they're evolutionary at best, at least for now. Unless Starship manage to really make trips to LEO 100x cheaper, then in this case it'll be indeed an actual game changer.

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Jasrek t1_jdd87gf wrote

> Internet via satellites is cool, but still can't compare itself to the one provided by optic fibers, so not a game-changer.

As someone whose family lives in a rural area, it absolutely is. The difference between Starlink internet and the crap they used to get from Viasat and other satellite internet companies is like going from dial-up to fiberoptic.

Not to mention use cases like natural disasters (it was used effectively in areas suffering forest fires, where internet lines were down or didn't reach those areas), underdeveloped countries, underdeveloped areas in developed countries, etc.

Heck, being able to use Starlink while traversing the ocean would be a game-changer in and of itself for freight, military, and passenger ships.

6

Organized_Riot t1_jddb3fs wrote

PayPal was pretty revolutionary. Also maybe Tesla didn't revolutionize electric cars but it definitely brought them into the mainstream, forcing other car companies to make more, newer electric models to compete. Also Tesla's open patent policy is pretty cool

3

CommunismDoesntWork t1_jddbke7 wrote

>Tesla still uses lithium-ion batteries which is the norm for any EVs today,

And unheard of like 6 years ago. Are we just going to pretend auto companies would have switched to EVs the way they are now if Tesla hadn't come along and started to eat their lunch? That's a revolution.

SpaceX revolutionized space if you were already in the space industry. For average people, we won't see the ramifications until starship, agreed, but everyone in the space industry felt the revolution that was 2015 when SpaceX landed the falcon 9 for the first time

3

Zergzapper t1_jddohwj wrote

I think theres an argument of pedantic happening here, people aren't saying those advancements arent good, they are saying they aren't being made by musk, the man has 19 patents with his name on it over his entire career. These ideas would happen without him

3

white_bread t1_jddleu0 wrote

What's the point of commenting in the Futurology subreddit only to be skeptical? "Oh great, another breakthrough. Sure."

I'm not saying that we blindly get hyped up on every headline but we're in a time where we're going to start seeing that exponential growth. We are actually going to see a lot of new breakthroughs.

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KeyanReid t1_jddzusm wrote

If I'm not mistaken, this advancement responds to a key area that causes many implant users to abandon their prostheses after time, which is that the body just adapts to life without it (thus making the prostheses a bit of hassle).

Not here to say "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" but yeah, Futurology sub, progress in the areas I understand need progress...what's the problem here? That the perfect solution hasn't arrived yet?

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Mercurionio t1_jdgjbie wrote

Because most of the stuff isn't in the public due to being impractical.

I mean, lots of revolutionary tech is good only on paper. There are fuckton of problems that will appear alongside with that tech. So why not solve the problem completely, with all the secondary stuff (or most of them) first, BEFORE hyping stuff and creating a false hope?

−1

Artanthos t1_jdein5g wrote

Look back just 50 years and realize just how much technology has already revolutionized the world within current lifetimes.

7

Skyblacker t1_jdfu1ob wrote

I'm still shocked that we got a covid vaccine in less than a year. I thought that sort of thing only happened in movies.

2

Artanthos t1_jdhdyzx wrote

When the political will exists to act on a crisis, mountains can be moved.

We could solve the climate crisis just as quickly, if the political will existed. But it won’t happen until things get much worse.

2

Skyblacker t1_jdj8uz9 wrote

We shrunk the ozone hole. We can act when the problem (look at this hole) and the solution (reduce certain types of emissions) are well defined.

The problem with climate change is that it's too nebulous: "This weather is getting weird because we enjoy too many modern conveniences." Like seriously, wtf does that mean? It's like the modern secular version of, "God will smite us because we have sinned."

2

BonzoTheBoss t1_jdcuhge wrote

Honestly it's gotten to the point where if I see something that "could" do something, I just substitute in "could not."

I try to stay positive but going by the rate of technological advancement that these articles each week claim, we should all be living in Moon colonies by now.

5

ValyrianJedi t1_jdcwhfw wrote

I do similar... I have a consulting firm that helps tech and energy startups find VC funding. At this point the mellower the pitch is the more likely I am to bite. If I hear "our revolutionary ground breaking technology is going to change the way the entire industry works from the ground up!" I stop paying attention almost instantly. If I hear "we made this thing that can save everyone some money and operate more effectively than current options and think it can sell well" I'm all ears.

10

psychotobe t1_jdd5woi wrote

See that tells me that while you'll never be ultra rich. You'll also never completely torpedo yourself into the dirt like Elon and Zuckerberg are. Humans like dramatic and loud displays (gotta love that monkey in us). The people who'll be comfortable are ones who just look for the reasonable long term use tech.

0

ValyrianJedi t1_jdd6hp7 wrote

Eh, there is still truckloads of money to be made on companies that aren't trying to pretend like they are the most important thing to ever happen during their pitches.

6

DarkangelUK t1_jddffio wrote

Normally the headlines say "could" and "may" and "potentially", this one is being brave and saying "will"... ive yet to see any of these bold claim stories bare fruit

3

dern_the_hermit t1_jde0lsj wrote

> ive yet to see any of these bold claim stories bare fruit

Would you? I mean, how often do you note the claim and then follow up on it later? If you've ever dismissed a bold claim story that DID bare(sic) fruit, would you be aware of it?

6

dustofdeath t1_jdewpz8 wrote

If this subreddit were about stuff available now, it would be /r/presentology

3

AccountGotLocked69 t1_jdd0tdc wrote

For anyone wondering how much reading that is: You'd have to spend an entire year reading 6200 words per second, if every single word you read is "revolutionize" to hit musk's net worth.

2

ANewOof t1_jddawob wrote

If it's not available to our most vulnerable in society, then it is not revolutionary

1

UnarmedSnail t1_jdejhts wrote

Revolutions require the will to invest and develop in the new technology. These articles tend to ignore cultural inertia and monetization.

1

prncssbbygrl t1_jdeuw65 wrote

This is going to be truer and truer as we get smarter and smarter

1

megamilker101 t1_jdew4s1 wrote

I was just thinking this, feels like at least once a week I hear about some new tech that will restore limbs or even a spine and yet I still see people in wheelchairs…..

1

chrisdh79 OP t1_jdc6hn3 wrote

From the article: Researchers from the University of Cambridge have created a new type of neural implant that could restore limb function in paralyzed limbs.

The developed device works in sync between the brain and paralyzed limbs - it combines flexible electronics and human stem cells to "better integrate" with the nerve and drive limb function, according to a press release.

There have been former attempts at using neural implants to restore limb function, but these mostly failed. This is because scar tissue can envelop the electrodes over time, disrupting the connection between the device and the nerve.

"If someone has an arm or a leg amputated, for example, all the signals in the nervous system are still there, even though the physical limb is gone,” said Dr. Damiano Barone from Cambridge’s Department of Clinical Neurosciences, who co-led the research, said in a statement. "The challenge with integrating artificial limbs, or restoring function to arms or legs, is extracting the information from the nerve and getting it to the limb so that function is restored."

The researchers combined cell therapy and bioelectronics into a single device, improving functionality and sensitivity.

In this case, they sandwiched a layer of muscle cells that were reprogrammed from stem cells between the electrodes and the living tissue. This led to device integration with the host's body, preventing the formation of scar tissue. For the time time, the cells survived on the electrode for 28 days - the duration of the experiment.

First, the researchers designed a biocompatible flexible electronic device thin enough to be attached to the end of a nerve. According to the release, a layer of stem cells, reprogrammed into muscle cells, was then placed on the electrode.

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TheNotSoGrim t1_jdcwnx7 wrote

Pretty insane stuff, let's hope it turns out to be feasible.

55

LazyLich t1_jdcsxup wrote

Looks like we won't need to invent Neuropozyne after all!

29

hippymule t1_jdf2i63 wrote

That is so fucking rad. I really wish I had gone into the medical field sometimes, just so I could help real people with awesome advancements like this. Instead I program the back end system of a company lol. Perhaps I could transition into programming for medical devices?

14

qj-_-tp t1_jdfn85x wrote

If you figure out how, let me know.

3

Black_RL t1_jdm36jx wrote

This is fantastic work!

Congrats to all involved!

1

Amkao-Herios t1_jddcfk2 wrote

From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me

49

PM_ME_OPPAI t1_jdda1ei wrote

So, it's basically the thing Krieger put in Ray to make his legs work again?

That is, the part that did all the work. The metal bones were for funzies.

33

adamlamonica t1_jddamb7 wrote

Stem cell reliant means massive push back from the right unfortunately.

24

Terr_ t1_jddkrxx wrote

There's no reason for them to do it, although I admit it might happen out of pure ignorance.

The stem cells in this case are reprogrammed and grafted from the adult patient's own body.

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adamlamonica t1_jddkx52 wrote

The word stem cell is all theyll need to witch hunt it.

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MadCervantes t1_jddmww2 wrote

There is enough dumb stuff that right wingers do without needing to make up new stuff.

−9

adamlamonica t1_jddn108 wrote

They'll just conflate this with abortion

10

MadCervantes t1_jddnpim wrote

They can't because there is no embryo. Look right wingers are bad but you're literally just making up shit to be mad about. Stop. Go do something use. Start a union at your workplace. Join a protest. Give food to the homeless. Get off the internet and touch some grass I am begging you.

−9

[deleted] t1_jddntwg wrote

[removed]

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Futurology-ModTeam t1_jdloxz6 wrote

Hi, adamlamonica. Thanks for contributing. However, your comment was removed from /r/Futurology.

> > Okay snowflake

> Rule 1 - Be respectful to others. This includes personal attacks and trolling.

Refer to the subreddit rules, the transparency wiki, or the domain blacklist for more information.

[Message the Mods](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/Futurology&subject=Question regarding the removal of this comment by /u/adamlamonica&message=I have a question regarding the removal of this comment if you feel this was in error.

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KonigSteve t1_jde2kgd wrote

Except they literally do. It doesn't matter that there is no connection anymore

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MadCervantes t1_jde3x2u wrote

I'm a leftist but I grew up very religious and conservative and I spend time with family still who are very anti choice and trust me: you're shadow boxing. Go do something useful.

−1

KonigSteve t1_jde7obv wrote

You're right, your particular anecdotal evidence is obviously the only thing that's right here.

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MadCervantes t1_jded44o wrote

You have some kind of aggregate evidence that shows this is a common refrain amongst conservatives? I'm all ears.

−1

LiveLifeLikeCre t1_jddpb48 wrote

It's all from the Christian lobbies. Church, evangelical, Christian nationalist money decides everything the right thinks it wants.

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Drewsef916 t1_jde2iou wrote

Unlikely.

There are many types of stem cells, the only type that are politically controversial and scrutinized from religious people are embryonic stem cells. And that is because these are the cells that go from inception, to baby. So to people who argue that life has begun with the emergence of these cells research on them is immoral as it is akin to harming a baby.

However the many other types of stem cells are not part of this controversy and have nothing to do with this stage of inception, such as hemapoetic stem cells used in bone marrow transplants, mesychmal stem cells etc. The stem cells utilized in this research would fall into this category, as they are adult somatic stem cells induced into a plueropotent state.

1

UnarmedSnail t1_jdelkjv wrote

You're assuming that they won't just go after it reflexively by the name. Maybe if it's couched as helpful to wounded vets.

2

Delbert3US t1_jdcko1j wrote

This could also be used as a control interface for devices I would think.

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[deleted] t1_jddhkew wrote

$20 says the corporation that develops and markets that will do it as a 'subscription' service, and if you fail to pay your legs stop working. /s

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Wurm42 t1_jdd3hal wrote

>"This interface could revolutionize the way we interact with technology," said co-first author Amy Rochford from the Department of Engineering. "By combining living human cells with bioelectronic materials, we’ve created a system that can communicate with the brain in a more natural and intuitive way, opening up new possibilities for prosthetics, brain-machine interfaces, and even enhancing cognitive abilities."

Mmm...you made rats twitch paralyzed forelimbs. Methinks you're overselling this a bit.

7

nick_oreo t1_jdd4za7 wrote

And penicillin started as mold in a sink, science takes time and everything builds on what we know. Definitely oversold, but it's a step in the direction of a better tomorrow.

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Wurm42 t1_jdd5wlb wrote

Agreed that this tech has potential, I'm just fed up with promo materials that take a promising incremental step in something and spin it as "This discovery will make everything perfect forever, by the end of the fiscal year!"

1

deathlydope t1_jdfvbt0 wrote

reading the article I’m not seeing a projected timeline or any impossible promises, only earnest excitement over the possibilities two or three papers down the line

2

Diligent_Excitement4 t1_jddryjq wrote

Always in support, but this might not be able to help those with chronic conditions.

4

FuturologyBot t1_jdc96a3 wrote

The following submission statement was provided by /u/chrisdh79:

From the article: Researchers from the University of Cambridge have created a new type of neural implant that could restore limb function in paralyzed limbs.

The developed device works in sync between the brain and paralyzed limbs - it combines flexible electronics and human stem cells to "better integrate" with the nerve and drive limb function, according to a press release.

There have been former attempts at using neural implants to restore limb function, but these mostly failed. This is because scar tissue can envelop the electrodes over time, disrupting the connection between the device and the nerve.

"If someone has an arm or a leg amputated, for example, all the signals in the nervous system are still there, even though the physical limb is gone,” said Dr. Damiano Barone from Cambridge’s Department of Clinical Neurosciences, who co-led the research, said in a statement. "The challenge with integrating artificial limbs, or restoring function to arms or legs, is extracting the information from the nerve and getting it to the limb so that function is restored."

The researchers combined cell therapy and bioelectronics into a single device, improving functionality and sensitivity.

In this case, they sandwiched a layer of muscle cells that were reprogrammed from stem cells between the electrodes and the living tissue. This led to device integration with the host's body, preventing the formation of scar tissue. For the time time, the cells survived on the electrode for 28 days - the duration of the experiment.

First, the researchers designed a biocompatible flexible electronic device thin enough to be attached to the end of a nerve. According to the release, a layer of stem cells, reprogrammed into muscle cells, was then placed on the electrode.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11zghvw/new_biohybrid_implant_will_restore_function_in/jdc6hn3/

1

litigationfool t1_jddg6ce wrote

Just be sure to keep your leg subscription paid and updated.

1

Mcdibbles t1_jddq1kn wrote

I can't wait to see what kinds of DRM they shove into this.

1

7andhalf-x-6 t1_jdej5un wrote

Give it to the military they’ll have it working. There’ll be super soldiers, but eventually we’ll have the tech too.

1

deathlydope t1_jdfvgyc wrote

odds are the military already has a robotic third arm strapped to a chimp somewhere being tested

2

TheMoonstomper t1_jdeosni wrote

I initially read this as "biohazard implant" and did a double-take.

1

MissionDocument6029 t1_jdf7zl8 wrote

Creepy in that next take control away from brain and you have troops

0

Kinexity t1_jdcl2ky wrote

I think this is a dead end in the situation they present it. We need to learn how to repair eg. broken spine (which btw already was done several times) and not just slap the implant on and say it's done.

−8

LazyLich t1_jdctzyz wrote

I mean... isn't that kinda like saying: "we need to learn how to cure cancer, and not just improve chemotherapy"?

"Curing cancer" is A LOT more complicated than "chemotherapy," and it gets more complicated the further you look onto it.

Yes. We DO need to learn how to mend nerves. We're working that. But who knows when we'll even be close? Here is a potential patch that can help people NOW.
We're advancing both. One is just gonna take a lot longer to get the results we want.

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tyler111762 t1_jdczi8r wrote

i disagree. that would leave us still at baseline human. repairing damage to our meat.

this is a step towards replacing the decaying biomass we are stuck in and developing augmentations instead of settling for prosthetics.

Praise be the machine god.

15

OpticalFibers t1_jddgjh3 wrote

From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me.

5

Corsair4 t1_jdd1x53 wrote

>"The challenge with integrating artificial limbs, or restoring function to arms or legs, is extracting the information from the nerve and getting it to the limb so that function is restored."

How does spinal repair help someone who lost the limb in the first place? Be as specific as you can please.

>and not just slap the implant on and say it's done.

It's a good thing that's not what they're doing then.

8

Kinexity t1_jdde4wi wrote

>"The challenge with integrating artificial limbs, or restoring function to arms or legs, is extracting the information from the nerve and getting it to the limb so that function is restored."

Also title itself says "paralyzed limbs". I criticize the restoration function of those implamants, not artificial limb replacement.

−2

Corsair4 t1_jddfaer wrote

>Also title itself says "paralyzed limbs".

Who cares what the title says?

In an ideal world, people would read the actual published journal article. The bare minimum should be reading the entirety of the public facing article because science is all about the details, and headlines are not. Now we can get into the quality of science journalism (generally, it's shit), but this article actually addresses your exact criticisms directly and clearly.

The situation "they" present (if one reads the article, which you clearly didn't) is both restoration of function, AND integration of artificial limbs.

Besides that, the linked article talks quite a bit about the specific problem this is solving (scar tissue development) and other possible uses (prosthetics and BCIs).

Off the top of my head, using a similar strategy may be a benefit to things such as deep brain stimulators or other CNS implants that are upstream of the spinal cord, since glial scarring is a huge problem there too.

So, no - this isn't a "dead end" for the situation they present it, because they present multiple situations and you focused (incorrectly) on one. Turns out, reading past the headline is often helpful when discussing recent developments in cutting edge, detail oriented fields.

3

cyankitten t1_jdea9o2 wrote

As someone who due to recovering from a fractured ankle & another issue that has come from THAT THANK you for being someone positive in this thread. Even though I’m not paralysed thank goodness, I don’t know when I’ll walk again & sometimes I wonder if it’s an IF though dr seems hopeful. So thank you. Somehow reading this article and your reply gives me some comfort during a difficult and uncertain time!

1

Corsair4 t1_jdeizne wrote

revolutionary in scientific circles is very different than revolutionary in public facing circles.

At it's core, this group is using stem cells to prevent glial scarring. That's huge. Implants like electrodes are an obvious starting point, but there's some recent work - apart from this paper - also looking at using stem cells to manage scarring from actual injury to nervous tissue - so that could be a management strategy for spinal cord injuries or peripheral nervous issues. All sorts of cool avenues to look at next.

Is this something that will be a treatment strategy in the next 6 months? absolutely not. Progress happens slowly, but it does happen, and this is a great track to explore.

2

AnthongRedbeard t1_jdclpj4 wrote

Can’t charge a monthly subscription for a repair and turn it off when you don’t pay.

5

SquiddneyD t1_jdcqd4g wrote

Every day, we stray closer and closer to a cyberpunk future.

3

Doktor_Earrape t1_jdcygpf wrote

A true cyberpunk future wouldn't be like this.

−4

PM_ME_OPPAI t1_jddacqv wrote

Idk, one of the core tenets of cyberpunk is corporate dystopia, and having your limbs disabled for defaulted payment is pretty damn dystopian.

4

LionstrikerG179 t1_jdd6041 wrote

Probably would. the Punk in Cyberpunk refers to dystopian living conditions because of massive wealth inequalities producing both a class of highly opulent mega-wealthy people and a progressively decaying poor class whose lives are continuously intruded on by those in the wealthy class

A good future would be just a Cyber future

2

Doktor_Earrape t1_jddf4uz wrote

You fundamentally misunderstand what the word 'punk' means

−1

LionstrikerG179 t1_jddi1wh wrote

The word Punk by itself isn't oftenly used in that context but when applied to genres, yeah it most certainly refers to that. Maybe I was too specific but extreme inequality is almost always a part of it

If you want to expand on your view of it tho, feel free

3