Janice R. Andrews
Lauren “Ren” Ramlan, an MIT biotech researcher, has successfully conducted a ground-breaking experiment wherein she ran the popular computer game Doom on a display composed only of E. coli bacteria. This unorthodox achievement is treating the bacteria with fluorescent proteins to produce a 32×48 resolution display that resembles computer pixels. Although Doom’s use of microbes to power the game may seem like a futuristic feat, there’s a startling catch: the game runs incredibly slowly, requiring an incredible nine hours each frame.
The Unconventional Gaming Display:
Ramlan’s project uses a display that is built completely of E. coli bacteria inside a cell wall. Fluorescent proteins are applied to the bacteria, turning them into an improvised Doom video game exhibit. The final images, which have the appearance of digital pixels, demonstrate the creative use of biotechnology in the game industry.
The Resolution Challenge:
One may question if it’s feasible to use microorganisms to operate Doom. Ramlan’s achievement of a 32×48 resolution is evidence of the creativity involved in fusing biology and technology. This resolution is by no means typical of contemporary games, though. To put things in context, gamers who are used to high-definition screens would find it difficult to enjoy the visual quality that this bacterial display offers.
The Time Dilemma:
Although the idea of Doom operating on microbes is certainly fascinating, there are questions about how realistically it might be implemented. The bacterium needs an astounding seventy-minute duration to light up a single game frame, and it takes an extra eight hours for it to revert to its initial condition. This is equivalent to almost nine hours of gameplay per frame, which puts conventional gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch in the shade.
Comparisons to Pregnancy Test Displays:
Ramlan mentions Doom operating on a pregnancy test’s digital display, drawing a comparison to the unusual gaming display. According to the study, all you need to run Doom is a screen and some willpower. Nevertheless, the bacterial display’s impracticality becomes apparent when one realizes how long it takes for each frame to light up.
The Future Implications:
In spite of its present drawbacks, the experiment has exciting prospects for the development of biotechnology and video games. Research into novel approaches to combine biology and technology may lead to developments that close the divide between these two seemingly unrelated disciplines. Even if using E. coli bacteria to run Doom might not be feasible for regular gaming, this approach paves the way for future projects that make use of the special abilities of living things in technology.
The intriguing nexus between biotechnology and gaming is demonstrated by MIT researcher Lauren Ramlan’s project, which involved running Doom on a display constructed of E. coli bacteria. Despite its modest speed making it unsuitable for mainstream gaming, the breakthrough paves the path for future scenarios in which biology and technology work together in novel ways. These kinds of experiments serve as a constant reminder that creativity has no boundaries as the fields of science and gaming continue to advance.
