--- title: "Scientists Invent “Sewing Machine” to Implant Brain Electrodes" description: "Scientists associated with Elon Musk say they've invented a \"sewing machine\" system to implant brain electrodes into rats." date: "2019-04-12" modified: "2019-04-12" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/sewing-machine-implant-brain-electrodes" categories: - "Brain" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "brain interfaces" - "elon musk" - "neuralink" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Invent “Sewing Machine” to Implant Brain Electrodes ![A group of scientists associated with Elon Musk say they've invented a new way to wire a brain implant into the brains of rats.]() *\Image: Pete Linforth via Pixabay/Tag Hartman-Simkins\* ## Fast Delivery A group of DARPA-funded scientists associated with Elon Musk say they've invented a new way to "rapidly implant" brain electrodes into rats — and their "sewing machine" implantation system could facilitate the creation of a mind-reading brain-computer interface, as [first reported by *Bloomberg*](). "Although more research is needed to refine the overall interface system and better integrate its components, these developments may ultimately open the possibility of bundling next-generation robotics, AI software, and electronics to create alternatives to present-day neurosurgical techniques," DARPA biotech director Justin Sanchez told *Bloomberg*. ## Musk-eteers The team's paper, [published on]() the preprint server *bioRxiv,* is notable because of Musk's founding role in Neuralink, a secrecy-shrouded venture that aims to build a brain-computer interface. All the new paper's authors — who declined to comment to *Bloomberg* — have been employed by or associated with Neuralink, according to the magazine. The report is especially intriguing, *Bloomberg* pointed out**,** in light of [a tweet]() this week in which Musk teased a Neuralink update "in a few months." **READ MORE:** [Team Linked to Elon Musk Edges Closer to Brain Computers]() \[*Bloomberg*\] **More on Neuralink:** *[Here’s Everything You Need to Know about Elon Musk’s Human/AI Brain Merge]()* ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()