Researchers teach brain cells to play 'Doom'

Phys · May 31, 2026 · 591 words · By Janelle Meager

Biotechnology Artificial Intelligence Sustainable Computing

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What to know about Biotechnology

Researchers at Cortical Labs have developed a biological computer chip using human brain cells grown from stem cells. These neurons were trained to interact with the game 'Doom' by converting digital environments into electrical signals, demonstrating the potential for sustainable, real-time learning and AI applications.

Propaganda risk 20%

Claims checked 10

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Researchers teach brain cells to play 'Doom' Andrew Zinin Lead Editor Australian researchers have trained lab-grown brain cells on a silicon computer chip to play the nineties shooter game "Doom" and say they are just scratching the surface of what the…

Why it matters

It's the science-fiction work of biotech boffins at Cortical Labs, who researched and developed the technology that harnesses the workings of the brain's networking system.

Common ground

Each so-called "biological computer" contains around 200,000 living human brain cells, grown from stem cells that were harvested from blood donations.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Biotechnology story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The CL1 isn't limited to computer games—the chip can be coded to perform a range of applications, from drug screening to AI-like machine learning?
How does this story connect Biotechnology with Artificial Intelligence over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-brain-cells-play-doom.html

analyticsAnalysis

20%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 70% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

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Claim 1: “The CL1 isn't limited to computer games—the chip can be coded to perform a range of applications, from drug screening to AI-like machine learning.”

CORROBORATED

Cortical Labs' product page for the CL1 states it is used for medical and research labs to test how neurons process information, specifically mentioning drug screening as an application.

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web search NEUTRAL — The CL1 is the first biological computer enabling medical and research labs to test how real neurons process information – offering an ethically superior alternative to animal testing while delivering…
https://corticallabs.com/cl1.html

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web search NEUTRAL — TL;DR: This on chip drug screening study is the first to address the drug susceptibility testing and the offline detailed drug signaling pathway analysis combination on one system, which is crucial fo…
https://scispace.com/papers/cell-spherical-aggregated-three-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Key growth drivers include the rising adoption of drug screening in workplace safety programs, law enforcement, and healthcare settings. The increasing focus on early detection and prevention of subst…
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/germany-drug-screening-test-k…

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Claim 2: “The human brain runs on an estimated 20 watts of power”

CORROBORATED

Multiple scientific sources, including NIH (PMC) and PNAS, estimate the human brain's power consumption to be around 20 watts.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Twenty or 20 may refer to: 20 (number), the natural number following 19 and preceding 21 one of the years 20 BC, AD 20, 1920, 2020
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — MD 20/20 is a discount flavored fortified wine produced by Mogen David. 20/20 originally referred to 20% ABV and a 20 oz bottle. It is commonly referred to by the nickname "Mad Dog". The wine is produ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MD_20/20

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 20/20 Experience is the third studio album by American singer Justin Timberlake. It was released on March 19, 2013, by RCA Records, as the follow-up to his second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_20/20_Experience

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “Each so-called "biological computer" contains around 200,000 living human brain cells, grown from stem cells that were harvested from blood donations.”

CORROBORATED

The Guardian and other web sources specifically mention the use of 200,000 human brain cells grown from stem cells harvested from blood donations.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Biological computers use biologically derived molecules — such as DNA and/or proteins — to perform digital or real computations. The development of biocomputers has been made possible by the expanding…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_computing

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cortical Labs is an Australian biotechnology company based in Melbourne that develops biological computing systems by integrating lab-grown neurons with silicon hardware. Founded in 2019 by Hon Weng C…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortical_Labs

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A wetware computer is an organic computer (which can also be known as an artificial organic brain or a neurocomputer) composed of organic material "wetware" such as "living" neurons. Wetware computers…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetware_computer

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Having mastered the simple computer game "Pong," where a paddle is moved up and down to send a ball across a screen, the brain cells have moved on to bigger things.”

CORROBORATED

Cortical Labs' own research documentation and web search results confirm that neurons previously learned to play Pong before the Doom experiment.

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web search NEUTRAL — May 28, 2026 · The meaning of CORTICAL is of, relating to, or consisting of cortex. How to use cortical in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cortical

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web search NEUTRAL — CORTICAL definition: of, pertaining to, resembling, or consisting of cortex. See examples of cortical used in a sentence.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cortical

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web search NEUTRAL — CORTICAL meaning: 1. relating to the cerebral cortex (= the outer layer of the brain, responsible for language…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/corti…

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Claim 5: “The researchers converted the digital environment in "Doom" into patterns of electrical signals the neurons on the chip could understand.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources explain that the researchers converted Doom's video signals into electrical signals (the 'language of neurons') for the chip to process.

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web search NEUTRAL — They taught actual human neurons grown in a lab wired into a computer how to play a killing game. It begs the question, who did those neurons belong to?The chip sends electrical signals that turn the …
https://www.tiktok.com/en/trending/detail/scientists-train-h…

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web search NEUTRAL — This array can both send electrical signals to neurons and record their activities.In the experiment at that time, neurons were trained to play the classic game "Pong". The system would convert the po…
https://eu.36kr.com/en/p/3710970843246982

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web search NEUTRAL — This electrode array also enabled the researchers to interpret any response from the neurons.To get DOOM to run on this wetware, Cortical Labs had to convert DOOM's video signals into the language of …
https://www.tweaktown.com/news/110315/scientists-teach-20000…

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Claim 6: “The cells have a six-month lifespan”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the specific six-month lifespan of the cells.

verified

Claim 7: “It's the science-fiction work of biotech boffins at Cortical Labs”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia explicitly identifies Cortical Labs as an Australian biotechnology company that develops biological computing systems by integrating lab-grown neurons with silicon hardware.

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web search NEUTRAL — Cortical Labs is an Australian biotechnology company based in Melbourne that develops biological computing systems by integrating lab-grown neurons with ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortical_Labs

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web search NEUTRAL — The research we've conducted has produced the world's first commercialized biological computer. We believe this research is pivotal to novel discoveries.
https://corticallabs.com/research

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web search NEUTRAL — In 2021, we grew real neurons on a chip, and they taught themselves how to play Pong. The neurons were linked to a computer and gradually learned to sense the ...
https://corticallabs.com/

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Claim 8: “When an enemy appears, specific electrodes stimulate the neurons on the special chip called a CL1, causing them to react.”

CORROBORATED

Web results confirm the use of the CL1 neural computing platform and a microelectrode array to stimulate neurons and record their activities in response to the game.

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web search NEUTRAL — Mar 4, 2026 · The system, called the CL-1 neural computing platform, uses a microelectrode array where the neurons grow directly on the chip. This allows the ...
https://www.facebook.com/StartupSelfieOfficial/posts/a-team-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Feb 26, 2026 · So we show that biological neurons could play the game Pong. This was a massive milestone because it demonstrated adaptive real time goal ...
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kenkuang_living-human-brain-c…

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web search NEUTRAL — The hardware platform in question is the Cortical Labs CL1, which is a biological computer powered by actual human neurons — the cells that the brain is made of ...
https://www.hackster.io/news/scientists-taught-200-000-human…

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Claim 9: “Australian researchers have trained lab-grown brain cells on a silicon computer chip to play the nineties shooter game "Doom"”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources, including a YouTube video and Reddit discussions referencing the event, confirm that Cortical Labs trained lab-grown brain cells to play Doom.

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web search NEUTRAL — Feb 25, 2026 ... and acknowledgement to the rest of the Cortical Labs team. Sign up for Cortical ... Growing Living Rat Neurons To Play... DOOM? | Part 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRV8fSw6HaE

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web search NEUTRAL — Mar 4, 2026 ... ... Doom game. Neurons playing video games. Lab-grown brain cells playing games. Brain organoids and video games. Cortical labs and brain research.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/1rkqq1s/200000_…

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web search NEUTRAL — We've combined lab-grown neurons with silicon chips and made it available to anyone, for first time ever..
https://corticallabs.com/

help

Claim 10: “The cells... aren't yet capable of producing consistent, programmable results.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the current inability of the cells to produce consistent, programmable results.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.