Bioelectricity Nexus — A Hub for Research, Tools, People & Applications

Bioelectricity Nexus is an open, comprehensive hub for the field of developmental bioelectricity. Browse peer-reviewed papers, find software and lab tools, meet researchers in Michael Levin's network, and explore real-world applications from cancer to regeneration. The site curates research, tools, publications, talks, and community resources for scientists, students, journalists, and curious minds.

Browse the Nexus — Five Doorways

  • Browse Papers — peer-reviewed papers, reviews, and preprints across the field, indexed and dated. See /key-papers and /latest-papers.
  • Find Tools — software, models, datasets, and lab equipment used in bioelectric research. See /tools.
  • Meet Researchers — Michael Levin's lab plus the wider network of named researchers and labs advancing the field. See /researchers.
  • See Applications — where bioelectricity meets the clinic and engineering: cancer, regeneration, birth-defect repair, xenobots, aging, and more. See /applications.
  • Watch Talks — TED, Lex Fridman, conference lectures, and long-form interviews. See /talks.

    • What is Bioelectricity?

    All living cells maintain voltage gradients across their membranes (Vmem). These bioelectric signals form an ancient communication system — older than neurons — that cells use to coordinate growth, pattern formation, regeneration, and behavior. By reading and writing these bioelectric patterns, scientists can control anatomy and reprogram cellular collectives.

    Key Research Themes

  • Bioelectricity & Pattern Control — endogenous voltage gradients encoding target morphology
  • Regeneration & Anatomical Homeostasis — bioelectric circuits guiding regrowth after injury
  • Cancer as a Bioelectric Problem — restoring Vmem patterns to suppress tumorigenesis
  • Left-Right Asymmetry — early bioelectric events driving organ placement
  • Basal Cognition & Diverse Intelligence — all cells process information and make decisions
  • Xenobots & Synthetic Morphology — the first living robots designed by AI, built from frog cells
  • Aging as Loss of Morphostatic Information — bioelectric restoration for healthspan
  • Computational Modeling — BETSE simulations, machine learning, circuit models

    • Explore

  • Michael Levin — Vannevar Bush Professor of Biology at Tufts University
  • Research Map — 11 research themes from bioelectric pattern control to computational modeling
  • Applications — limb regeneration, cancer electroceuticals, birth defect repair, xenobots
  • Publications — 400+ peer-reviewed papers, editorials, preprints, and popular press
  • Talks & Media — TED talk, Lex Fridman, Allen Discovery Center lectures, interviews
  • Tools & Software — BETSE, voltage reporter dyes, optogenetics, protocols
  • Network — Levin Lab, Allen Discovery Center, Wyss Institute, Morphoceuticals, ICDO
  • Glossary — bioelectric code, Vmem, morphogenetic code, basal cognition, diverse intelligence
  • Resource Directory — 72+ curated resources across labs, journals, tools, and communities
  • Researcher Directory — profiles of 80+ researchers in bioelectricity and related fields