Brain Balls

The podcast explores the development and implications of brain organoids, tiny 3D structures grown from human cells that mimic aspects of the human brain. It begins with the accidental discovery of these organoids by scientist Madeline Lancaster, detailing how they are now used to study neurological disorders like Timothy syndrome and glioblastoma. Researchers are even connecting different types of organoids, such as spinal cord and thalamus, to create assembloids that model complex systems like the pain pathway. The discussion raises ethical questions about the potential for consciousness in these increasingly complex structures, especially as they blur the lines between life and non-life, human and non-human, and human and computer.