A 3D fruit fly on macOS desktop powered by the real FlyWire connectome(github.com)
372 points by phoenix120 3 days ago | 182 comments
tl;dr: A macOS desktop toy that renders a 3D fruit fly driven by a live 1 kHz leaky-integrate-and-fire simulation of a 668-neuron circuit with ~19,000 real synaptic connections from the FlyWire connectome (FAFB v783). Cursor motion feeds real LC4/LPLC2 looming detectors, and escape only triggers when the Giant Fiber actually spikes — no scripted behaviors. Includes an interactive brain window showing 23,210 neuron soma positions where you can "optogenetically" stimulate regions and watch the fly groom, walk, steer, or flee accordingly.
HN Discussion:
  • Project overstates connectome control since behaviors are still scripted and merely triggered
  • Questioning the ethics of simulating a living creature's brain
  • Suggesting integration with existing biomechanical fly simulators to enhance realism
  • Speculating about future potential of booting entire organisms from DNA sequences
  • ~Complaints about AI-generated README and missing demo video