7. Grow A Brain, Already

Gary Marcus starts off his article with a question: How do we know that we are not simply brains in jars that have their lives hooked up to a virtual-reality simulator? Are the things we know just figments of an imagination fed by a computer? He reassures us by saying that it's scientifically impossible, then creeps us out a little by saying that scientists are getting closer to sustaining a rudimentary brain in a vat, even building one from stem cells. The brains have no "training", meaning they've had no stimulus or thoughts put into them. Marcus mentions other things scientists managed to craft in the laboratory: a 3-D printed bionic ear, and a lab-grown hamburger. Marcus goes back to the subject of brains, and notes the implications this new breakthrough brings; mainly, people with severe brain traumas might be healed via a lab-grown brain transplant. He also points out that these ideas are far from coming true in the near future; scientists don't know how to "program" brains yet, and when they do, lots of ethical questions begin to pop up, concerning a debate on wether or not brains are alive and have rights. Marcus ends the article with:  "For now, these questions are still just another round of thought experiments. But it’s more likely than ever that such thoughts might some day be held by just another brain in a jar."

The article is thoughtfully written, with a creative introduction. The introduction is a little out of place, however, as it gives the reader an expectation of what they are about to read that isn't exactly what the article is about. I read the introduction and thought it would be about some philosophical question, or maybe a humorous article; instead, it's a very scientific article. An interesting one, but a tad unexpected. The author manages to remain coherent for most of the article, and thankfully doesn't go too deep on the ethical questions raised at the end. the conclusion is satisfying; the article doesn't just stop all of a sudden, like many articles have the habit of doing.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/08/nature-study-scientists-grow-a-brain.html