Scientists create mind-controlled bees straight out of The Last of Us

Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Technology have created the world's lightest insect brain controller and injected it into bees.

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A report from the South China Morning Post reveals that the scientists behind this technology believe that fleets of mind-controlled insects could be used to scout areas and help disaster relief operations. How does it work? Researchers developed a device that plugs directly into the brain of a bee via three microscopic needles.

Scientists then use electronic pulses sent through the needles to control the direction the bees fly, and according to research published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, the bees obeyed these commands 90% of the time.

Notably, before the creation of this new cyborg controller, Singapore held the record for the lightest design, but it's now three times as heavy as the one Chinese researchers have developed. The team behind the technological advance believes the device could be used to send bees on military operations, particularly scouting.

Additionally, the design of the cyborg controller is reminiscent of cordyceps, which is the real-life parasitic fungus that "zombifies" insects and takes control of their bodies. Cordyceps was also the premise in the hit PlayStation game and now HBO TV show "The Last of Us." Essentially, the researchers took the concept of cordyceps and mimicked it in the form of technology.

As for the device itself, the researchers took a polymer film and printed miniature circuit boards on it. The film is flexible and as thin as the wings of the insect, making it extremely lightweight. However, there is currently a limitation with the technology. The bees require wired power, whereas the roaches, the same device caused them to tire after 10 zaps from the system. Adding batteries to the design results in the insects growing tired very quickly due to the extra weight.