2024 Academia Sinica Open House

Electricity has become an indispensable energy source in modern daily life. However, electricity is not only a physical phenomenon but also an important physiological signal in living organisms, known as bioelectricity. Almost all living organisms on Earth, including animals, plants, and microorganisms, can produce bioelectricity. Bioelectricity allows humans to sense the external world, stimulate our heartbeats, and support our daily movements. Even plants and microbes use electrical signals to interact with their environment and seek water or nutrients. This special lecture will explore the basic principles of bioelectricity generation and trace the development of bioelectricity from its discovery to modern applications. For example, brain-computer interface technology captures bioelectrical signals and uses brain waves to control assistive machinery, helping paralyzed individuals stand again. Additionally, bioelectricity has become a crucial biological signal for treating many diseases. New medical devices such as artificial electronic eyes and cochlear implants have greatly improved the quality of life for many people. In the future, the integration of bioelectricity and artificial intelligence will further revolutionize our lives.