Scientists have succeeded in testing the implant on mice, but there's still a long way to go. The team just recently created a human-sized version that would be suitable for surgery, and it'll have to go through more studies before human trials begin. Provided everything goes smoothly, though, it might restore hearing in situations where patients might only recover basic sound perception. There are also possible uses elsewhere, including the brain, spine and anywhere else doctors might want to record or stimulate neural activity.