Scientists have managed to get a hydrogel to play a video game. This experiment, conducted by a team of researchers from…

Scientists have managed to get a hydrogel to play a video game.

This experiment, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Reading, was inspired by the success of a previous trial carried out two years ago. In that earlier experiment, scientists trained a solution containing neurocytes—brain cells—to play the classic tabletop tennis simulator Pong.

In the new experiment, the researchers used an electroactive polymer hydrogel placed between electrode plates. The gel responded to electrical stimulation, allowing it to control the “paddle” in a computer game.

Initially, the hydrogel acted chaotically, but over time, its performance improved as ions accumulated in areas with maximum stimulation. This led to the paddle reflecting the ball more accurately, increasing the duration of gameplay. The uneven distribution of ions within the hydrogel resembled the process of muscle memory formation in living organisms. As a result, the hydrogel became better at the task over time, much like how living organisms adapt to new conditions.

It’s clear that the hydrogel does not possess consciousness, but the system demonstrated the ability to accumulate experience and improve its performance thanks to its memory. This discovery could simplify the development of algorithms for neural networks, which currently rely on universal principles of biological connections.

@science