Bit of Eternal Sunshine-esque sciencey news, via the Guardian:

Scientists have picked up fragments of people's thoughts by decoding the brain activity caused by words that they hear.

The remarkable feat has given researchers fresh insight into how the brain processes language, and raises the tantalising prospect of devices that can return speech to the speechless.

Though in its infancy, the work paves the way for brain implants that could monitor a person's thoughts and speak words and sentences as they imagine them. (Source)

More info here.

It's similar to an earlier experiment in which scientists were sort of able to translate images inside a person's mind, and broadcast them on a monitor.