Skip to main content

A high school kid just built a machine to grow ‘mini brains’ that could aid Zika research

In just a few months, a high school student built an innovative device that may help unlock the secrets of how the Zika virus compromises the development of fetal forebrains. Christopher Hadiono almost didn’t get the chance to spend the 2013 summer session at Johns Hopkins University where he developed the concept, according to a report publish by Spectrum. But consecutive emails, a letter, and a phone call convinced Professor of Neurology Hongjun Song of the teen’s commitment. 

Once admitted to help Song at his lab, Hadiono spent that summer mastering a 3D printing program, building a contraption that can grow hundreds of mini-brains, and opening the door for neuroscientists to peak inside the degenerative mechanisms of a virus that’s infected an estimated 1.5 million people in Brazil alone. Based on research supported by Hadiono’s device, Song and his team have published a paper in the journal Cell, in which they show that the Zika virus interferes with fetal forebrain development by neutralizing neural stem cells and thinning brain structures. 

Recommended Videos

Mini-brains have existed for around five years now, but machines which function like mini-bioreactors are needed to create and sustain them — and those machines can be relatively big and prohibitively expensive. Hadiono’s device is different. Costing just $400, his machine is capable of accommodating more than twice as many mini-brains as the existing $2,000 alternatives.

And Hariono’s device is compact, enabling researchers to run multiple machines side by side and subject mini-brains to nearly twice as many different experiments. “We did not think that even a biotechnology graduate student could make this into a reality,” Song told Spectrum.

When it comes to studying brains, mini-brains offer researchers a tiny, manageable imitation of the real thing. Since these aren’t actual brains, researchers can experiment in ways that would otherwise compromise medical safety and ethical standards. There isn’t yet broad consensus that machines like Hadiono’s can replace traditional bioreactors, but more testing may result in their becoming generally accepted alternatives.

Dyllan Furness
Former Contributor
Dyllan Furness is a freelance writer from Florida. He covers strange science and emerging tech for Digital Trends, focusing…
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more