LONDON -- The mind-expanding prospect of an electronic implant in the brain to extend human intelligence has come a step nearer with the growth of living nerves on a silicon chip.

Scientists have grown the nerve cells of a rat, which are almost identical to those of humans, on a silicon chip and transmitted electrical impulses along the nerves to sensors within the device.

The findings are being hailed as a crucial first step in developing direct connections between computers and the brain. This will lead to silicon-based enhancements for the body, ranging from memory devices inside the head to "bionic" eyes that allow blind people to see.

Stefano Vassenelli, a member of the research team at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Germany, said the experiment showed it was theoretically possible to connect human nerve cells to a similar microchip. "This is an important step needed to take cells from a human and to connect them to a chip. It shows it may be possible to connect the human brain to a computer," said Mr. Vassenelli.

Colin Humphreys, a professor at Cambridge University, said the latest research raised the frightening prospect of one day being able to control someone's mind through silicon chip implants.

Formerly best-known as a TV sports commentator and leading spokesman for the British Green Party, David Icke (45) now tours the world spilling the beans about government conspiracies such as the international drug trade involving George Bush, Bill Clinton and other big names, the Oklahoma City bombing, collective and individual mind control, to mention but a few topics.

The fact that no one has sued him only lends further credence to his claims. A tireless campaigner for truth, Icke has written 10 books showing that the same few people, secret societies and organizations control the daily directions of our lives. They engineer wars, revolutions, terrorist outrages and political assassinations; they control the world market in hard drugs and the media.

"The secret government of the world is manipulating the human mind to accept a centralized global tyranny, as we speak. This tyranny is called the New World Order, and unless we wake up it will manifest as a world government; a world central bank, currency and army and a microchipped population linked to a global computer.

"Already domestic animals are being microchipped and linked to a computer. The Queen of England has had her pet corgis microchipped. Prince Charles will be next, you watch," he laughs.

Only it's no laughing matter. Icke says the move to phase out the use of coins and notes is underway and all money transactions will become electronic via a credit or smart card.

"Today if you go into a shop to buy anything and your credit card is refused by the computer, you can pay with cash. What happens when there is no cash? If the computer refuses your card or microchip, you have no means to buy anything. We will then be robots in every sense of the word, an extension of a computer program."

Icke says The Elite plan includes the microchipping of all babies at birth. "The technology already exists, and all that remains is to persuade the public to accept it. One way this will be done is to highlight missing children stories, including the abduction of babies from maternity wards.

"Another selling point of this would be the phasing out of passports. In the UK people are already being microchipped with their medical records. Even more frightening is that the microchip can be used to modify behavior."

PHILADELPHIA -- New discoveries about how the brain is physically organized could help paralyzed people move an arm or a leg just by thinking about it.

An electrode implanted in the brain could send a signal to another electrode in the paralyzed muscle, Richard Andersen of the California Institute of Technology said.

"It would be kind of like a cellular phone," Andersen said in an interview.

The idea of using electrodes this way is not new. What is new, Andersen said, is knowing where in the brain they should go to have the best effect.

A tiny array would be implanted just under the surface of the brain, with wires no thicker than a human hair. It could transmit signals to a second electrode implanted in a muscle.

NEW ORLEANS -- Can't seem to remember that infernal PIN number for your bank card? Don't worry. Just step up to the camera while your eye is scanned. The iris--the colored part of the eye that this camera will be checking--is unique to every person, more so than fingerprints. This means no more fear of having your account cleaned out in case your card is lost or stolen.

Sensar Inc., a New Jersey-based company, is preparing to offer eye-scanning to ATM manufacturers as an alternative to passwords and PINs for automatic teller machines. Sensar says the system works equally well with customers wearing glasses or contact lenses and at night. No special lighting is needed. And, scam artists beware, a picture of the card holder won't pass muster. The first thing the camera will check is whether the eye is pulsating.