Factbox: Neuralink: what you need to know about Elon Musk's brain chip company
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Neuralink, the Elon Musk company that Reuters reported on Monday is the target of a federal investigation over its animal trial program, has been trying to develop a brain chip that would enable the paralyzed to walk and the blind to see.
Here is more on what Neuralink does.
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WHAT IS NEURALINK DEVELOPING?
Founded in 2016 by Musk and a group of engineers, Neuralink is building a brain chip interface that can be implanted within the skull, which it says could eventually help disabled patients to move and communicate again, and also restore vision.
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Neuralink's device has a chip that processes and transmits neural signals that could be transmitted to devices like a computer or a phone.
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The company hopes that a person would potentially be able to control a mouse, keyboard or other computer functions like text messaging with their thoughts.
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"First @Neuralink product will enable someone with paralysis to use a smartphone with their mind faster than someone using thumbs," Musk said in April 2021.
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Neuralink also believes its device will eventually be able to restore neural activity inside the body, allowing those with spinal cord injuries to move limbs. The San Francisco and Austin-based company also aspires to cure neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
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WHAT PROGRESS HAS NEURALINK MADE?
Neuralink has produced several examples of testing aspects of its technology successfully on animals, including a video in 2021 that showed a macaque playing a simple videogame after being implanted with a brain chip. In a presentation webcast last week, the company showcased improvements in the speed and capabilities of the chip.
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WHAT HURDLES FOR NEURALINK NEXT?
Neuralink has yet to secure U.S. regulatory approval to move to human trials - unlike competitor Synchron, which has less ambitious goals for its medical advances. Neuralink has missed Musk's publicly stated deadlines to start human trials and this year submitted its application to the Food and Drug Administration to begin them. Musk said last week he believes Neuralink can start human clinical trials in six months.
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CONTROVERSY AROUND ANIMAL TESTING
The company is facing a federal probe for potential animal-welfare violations at a time when its staff has complained that the testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and sources familiar with the investigation and company operations.
​
In all, the company has killed about 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys, following experiments since 2018.
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Source: Reuters
Factbox: Neuralink: what you need to know about Elon Musk's brain chip company
​
Neuralink, the Elon Musk company that Reuters reported on Monday is the target of a federal investigation over its animal trial program, has been trying to develop a brain chip that would enable the paralyzed to walk and the blind to see.
Here is more on what Neuralink does.
​
WHAT IS NEURALINK DEVELOPING?
Founded in 2016 by Musk and a group of engineers, Neuralink is building a brain chip interface that can be implanted within the skull, which it says could eventually help disabled patients to move and communicate again, and also restore vision.
​
Neuralink's device has a chip that processes and transmits neural signals that could be transmitted to devices like a computer or a phone.
​
The company hopes that a person would potentially be able to control a mouse, keyboard or other computer functions like text messaging with their thoughts.
​
"First @Neuralink product will enable someone with paralysis to use a smartphone with their mind faster than someone using thumbs," Musk said in April 2021.
​
Neuralink also believes its device will eventually be able to restore neural activity inside the body, allowing those with spinal cord injuries to move limbs. The San Francisco and Austin-based company also aspires to cure neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
​
WHAT PROGRESS HAS NEURALINK MADE?
Neuralink has produced several examples of testing aspects of its technology successfully on animals, including a video in 2021 that showed a macaque playing a simple videogame after being implanted with a brain chip. In a presentation webcast last week, the company showcased improvements in the speed and capabilities of the chip.
​
WHAT HURDLES FOR NEURALINK NEXT?
Neuralink has yet to secure U.S. regulatory approval to move to human trials - unlike competitor Synchron, which has less ambitious goals for its medical advances. Neuralink has missed Musk's publicly stated deadlines to start human trials and this year submitted its application to the Food and Drug Administration to begin them. Musk said last week he believes Neuralink can start human clinical trials in six months.
​
CONTROVERSY AROUND ANIMAL TESTING
The company is facing a federal probe for potential animal-welfare violations at a time when its staff has complained that the testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and sources familiar with the investigation and company operations.
​
In all, the company has killed about 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys, following experiments since 2018.
​
Source: Reuters
Factbox: Neuralink: what you need to know about Elon Musk's brain chip company
​
Neuralink, the Elon Musk company that Reuters reported on Monday is the target of a federal investigation over its animal trial program, has been trying to develop a brain chip that would enable the paralyzed to walk and the blind to see.
Here is more on what Neuralink does.
​
WHAT IS NEURALINK DEVELOPING?
Founded in 2016 by Musk and a group of engineers, Neuralink is building a brain chip interface that can be implanted within the skull, which it says could eventually help disabled patients to move and communicate again, and also restore vision.
​
Neuralink's device has a chip that processes and transmits neural signals that could be transmitted to devices like a computer or a phone.
​
The company hopes that a person would potentially be able to control a mouse, keyboard or other computer functions like text messaging with their thoughts.
​
"First @Neuralink product will enable someone with paralysis to use a smartphone with their mind faster than someone using thumbs," Musk said in April 2021.
​
Neuralink also believes its device will eventually be able to restore neural activity inside the body, allowing those with spinal cord injuries to move limbs. The San Francisco and Austin-based company also aspires to cure neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
​
WHAT PROGRESS HAS NEURALINK MADE?
Neuralink has produced several examples of testing aspects of its technology successfully on animals, including a video in 2021 that showed a macaque playing a simple videogame after being implanted with a brain chip. In a presentation webcast last week, the company showcased improvements in the speed and capabilities of the chip.
​
WHAT HURDLES FOR NEURALINK NEXT?
Neuralink has yet to secure U.S. regulatory approval to move to human trials - unlike competitor Synchron, which has less ambitious goals for its medical advances. Neuralink has missed Musk's publicly stated deadlines to start human trials and this year submitted its application to the Food and Drug Administration to begin them. Musk said last week he believes Neuralink can start human clinical trials in six months.
​
CONTROVERSY AROUND ANIMAL TESTING
The company is facing a federal probe for potential animal-welfare violations at a time when its staff has complained that the testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and sources familiar with the investigation and company operations.
​
In all, the company has killed about 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys, following experiments since 2018.
​
Source: Reuters
7
Steps to Creating a Rain Garden
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1. Information
Get information about rain gardens here.
Rain Garden 101
A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects water from roof downspouts, asphalt or sump pump discharge and allows it to soak into the ground rather than enter the storm sewer system. Less runoff from your home means less channel erosion and fewer suspended solids and pollution in the waterways.
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When planted with native grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective, low maintenance and beautiful way to reduce and filter runoff from your property. Create butterfly habitat, prevent flooding and make your lawn more attractive by installing a rain garden at your own home!
Source: mywatersheds.org
*The key here is to find flowers and grasses that like rain / water to fill your “rain” garden. Do you have some useful information? Email it to us.
2. Resources
​Obtain resources for rain gardens here.
Plants That Like To Be In Water:
Types Of Plants That Tolerate Wet Areas General Water Plant Care
By: Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer
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Most plants don’t do well in soggy soil and excessive moisture results in rot and other deadly diseases. Although very few plants grow in wet areas, you can learn which plants like wet feet. Some moisture loving plants thrive in standing water and others tolerate soggy, poorly drained areas of your garden. Read on to learn more about these plants. Plants That Tolerate Wet Areas Here are just some plants that can take moist conditions. Water tolerant perennials and bulbs include:
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Lily of the valley
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Bugbane
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Crinum
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Sweet woodruff
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Daylily
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Rose mallow
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Blue vervain
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Monkey flower
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Iris
Certain grasses add beauty and texture to damp areas.
For example, the following grasses perform well in moist soil:
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Northern sea oats
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Indian grass
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Little bluestem
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Cordgrass
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If you’re looking for a vine or a groundcover for a damp area, keep in mind that most vines and groundcovers require some drainage and don’t perform well in areas that are flooded or consistently wet. That being said, these plants are worth a try:
Information On Caring For
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Pothos Plants
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Ajuga
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Trumpet creeper
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Carolina jessamine
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Liriope Plants
That Like to Be in Water There are a number of plants that can withstand long periods with wet feet. These make good additions to garden ponds, bogs, rain gardens, or just those difficult areas of the landscape that stay too wet for planting anything else. Perennial plants that tolerate standing water and flooded areas include:
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Water hyssop
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Pickerelweed
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Cattail Iris
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Canna Elephant’s ear
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Swamp sunflower
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Scarlet swamp hibiscus
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Many ferns tolerate wet areas and thrive at the edge of ponds, including: Cinnamon fern
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Royal fern
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Sensitive fern
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Painted fern
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Marsh fern
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Holly fern
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However, don’t assume that all ferns like wet feet. Some types, such as Christmas fern and wood fern, prefer dry, shady areas. In addition to the ornamental grasses that tolerate moist conditions previously listed, muhly grass enjoys damp soil and pond edges. Most types of sedge do well in wet, sandy soil. Sedge is available in a variety of sizes, forms, and colors. Keep in mind that soil moisture is only one thing to consider when choosing plants for wet areas.
Other important factors include light, soil type, and temperature hardiness. A local greenhouse or nursery can provide information about specific water tolerant plants for your area.
Source: Garden Know How
Survival Gardens
Survival Gardens have become very popular since the pandemic as some seek to create fruit bearing / edible gardens as a source of food due to food shortages and to maximizing spending dollars during uncertain times while increasing savings if possible. Start your Survival Garden today.
4. Implementation
Learn how to implement that creation of your rain gardens here.
3. Training & Education
Learn about rain gardens here.
5. Collaborate & Exemplify
Collaborate with people in your community to establish your rain garden and see how its done here.
Design and Install Your Rain Garden
Collaborator, City of Norfolk
Collaborator, City of Norfolk
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Norfolk offers a credit on your stormwater fee for the proper design, installation, and maintenance of a rain garden!
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Do you or will you collaborate or exemplify for your neighbors rain gardening? Contact us and tell us your story!
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6. Community Champions & Partners
​Learn about community champions or partners who have (or are) established a rain garden or contribute to the establishment of rain gardens here.
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Elizabeth River Project’s cost share program
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Norfolk offers a credit on your stormwater fee for the proper design, installation, and maintenance of a rain garden!
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Are you or will you be a community champion or partner in establishing rain gardens? Contact us and tell us your story!