Science: Rendering the Beautiful FlyWire Dataset In Just 2 Hours

When tasked with rendering a dataset as intricate and breathtaking as the one I recently worked on, the tools at my disposal had to be cutting-edge. Fortunately, I had the privilege of developing and utilizing the open-source Blue Brain BioExplorer. With this powerful software, I was able to render a stunning, complex dataset in just two hours, starting from scratch.

The dataset in question showcased neural circuits and synaptic connections, which demanded precise visualization. Standard off-the-shelf tools wouldn’t have been up to the task, but the BioExplorer—specifically designed for handling massive neural data—allowed me to create high-quality images quickly and efficiently.

What might have taken days using generic software took only two hours with the BioExplorer, demonstrating the importance of having the right tools for the job. This custom solution, optimized for large-scale data and high-performance environments, allowed me to bring the dataset to life, offering a detailed, clear, and beautiful view of neural structures.

The ability to achieve such results in record time speaks volumes about the power of specialized software. The Blue Brain BioExplorer not only makes working with complex data manageable, but it transforms the data into something visually inspiring, informing, educating, and sparking curiosity along the way.

We thank the Princeton FlyWire team and members of the Murthy and Seung labs, as well as members of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, for development and maintenance of FlyWire (supported by BRAIN Initiative grants MH117815 and NS126935 to Murthy and Seung). We also acknowledge members of the Princeton FlyWire team and the FlyWire consortium for neuron proofreading and annotation.

Flywire: https://flywire.ai

Blue Brain BioExplorer: https://github.com/BlueBrain/BioExplorer

Dataset: https://codex.flywire.ai/api/download

Just for fun: Online open-source online SWC neuron visualizer

With SfN coming up, I’ve put together a small neuron visualizer for SWC files. It's nothing too fancy, just a fun, simple base for anyone who wants to interactively visualize neurons. Best part? It’s open source and super easy to tweak

You can also hook it up to http://www.neuromorpho.org if you need access to a broader neuron database. Feel free to play around, modify the code, and let me know what you think. It’s all about making things simpler and more accessible.

Try it live: https://single-neuron.scientific-visualization.org

Visualize a morphology from neuromorpho using the swc url parameter:

https://single-neuron.scientific-visualization.org/?swc=https://neuromorpho.org/dableFiles/tarusawa/CNG%20version/WT-iPS-derived-cell-14L.CNG.swc

Source code: https://github.com/favreau/MetaBrain