Petri Dish of Human Brain Cells Plays Doom, Raising Sci-Fi Concerns

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In a series of recent scientific breakthroughs, researchers have uploaded the brain of a living fly into a simulation, created a virtual insect that can walk, fly, and groom itself, and taught a petri dish containing 200,000 human brain cells to play the classic video game Doom. These experiments have been hailed as major advancements, but have also sparked inevitable fears about the prospects of lab-grown humans and digital clones.

Why it matters

These experiments represent significant steps towards the creation of artificial intelligence and the blurring of the line between biological and digital intelligence. While the researchers involved have emphasized the scientific value of these projects, the public is understandably concerned about the potential ethical and societal implications of this technology, especially as it relates to the creation of sentient, lab-grown entities.

The details

In San Francisco, the biotechnology company Eon Systems created a virtual insect that could perform basic functions like walking, flying, and grooming itself, demonstrating the ability to upload a living brain into a simulation. Meanwhile, researchers in Australia have taught a petri dish containing 200,000 human brain cells to play the classic video game Doom, showcasing the potential for brain cells to interface with and control digital systems.

• In March 2026, US scientists uploaded a copy of a living fly's brain into a simulation.
• Also in March 2026, Eon Systems in San Francisco created a virtual insect that could walk, fly, and groom itself.
• Researchers in Australia have recently taught a petri dish of 200,000 human brain cells to play Doom.