{
  "id": 6270069,
  "title": "Google maps entire brain and central nervous system of adult male fruit fly, software engineers immediately make it run Doom — AI-powered 3D model of over 166,000 neurons can also play Super Mario 64",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/google-maps-entire-brain-and-central-nervous-system-of-adult-male",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-08T11:06:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Hardware",
    "slug": "tom-s-hardware",
    "url": "https://www.tomshardware.com/software/programming/google-maps-entire-brain-and-central-nervous-system-of-adult-male-fruit-fly-software-engineers-immediately-make-it-run-doom-ai-powered-3d-model-of-over-166-000-neurons-can-also-play-super-mario-64"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, researchers have mapped the complete brain and central nervous system of an adult male fruit fly for the first time. This monumental milestone was accomplished by Google Research scientists, working alongside the HHMI Janelia Research Campus and the broader scientific community. The project utilized advanced imaging technology to convert millions of 2D images into detailed 3D neural shapes, reconstructing a staggering 166,000+ neurons.\n\nThis development marks a significant leap forward in neuroscience, as it promises to enhance our understanding of the brain's complex workings. Google highlighted that this breakthrough could accelerate the study of brain functions and related research areas. Despite the fruit fly's relative simplicity compared to the human brain, boasting only 166,000 neurons, the mapping of such a comprehensive neural network represents a substantial scientific advancement.\n\nWithin days of the announcement, software engineers were already showcasing the potential applications of this AI-powered 3D model. They demonstrated the MaleCNS v1.0 fruit fly connectome being trained to play classic video games, such as Doom and Super Mario 64. The engineers explained that each frame of the game serves as sensory input for the fly's neural network, which then maps the neural activity to game controls. In Doom, the fly's neural activity is linked to game controls, with damage triggers stimulating two PPL101 dopamine cells as a form of reinforcement. The ultimate question posed was whether the fly could learn to survive within the game environment.\n\nThe AI training process was entirely open-source, and enthusiasts could monitor the neural network's progress live. An example of the fruit fly engaging in gameplay was shared, where Mario repeatedly ran into walls, illustrating the basic capabilities of the trained neural network. The code for this remarkable project was developed with the assistance of GPT Astra, showcasing the collaborative efforts behind this innovative endeavor.",
  "summary": "Scientists mapped the complete brain and central nervous system of an adult male fruit fly for the first time. Days later the full MaleCNS v1.0 fruit fly connectome was being trained to play Doom and Mario 64.",
  "key_points": [
    "Researchers map entire brain of adult male fruit fly with 166,000+ neurons",
    "Google engineers train AI-powered 3D model to play Doom and Super Mario 64",
    "Open-source neural network demonstrates basic gameplay capabilities"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}