Material World
Weekly science conversation, on everything from archaeology to zoology, from abacus to the antipodean rodent zyzomys, by way of meteorites. Presented by Quentin Cooper, and airing every Thursday, 4:30 pm.
Updated: 24 min 11 sec ago
Material: Tissue Engineering & Swarm Intelligence 08052008
Scientists are turning to chemistry and engineering to develop a range of artificial skin and bone which can be used to improve the treatment of burns and bone diseases.
Tissues are being grown by using complex man made 'scaffolds' to support them – not unlike scaffolding on a house - these scaffolds are not made from steel but of bio-ceramics and plastic polymers.
Also on the programme scientists are still trying to find out how such highly complex insect societies like termite mounds and bee hives are organised. This is the emerging science or Swarm Intelligence. Insect cities are coordinated when there is no ’insect mayor’, no ‘brain insect’, controlling behaviour.
How does this happen? Quentin Cooper find out.
