Tech: Researchers build new heart using old one as template

Researchers and the University of Minnesota have rebuilt a mouse heart from the ground up using stems cells and a "scaffold" consisting of a rat's heart with all the cardiac muscles removed. The group hopes that the method might eventually be used to build hearts for transplant using a donor heart as a base, covered with muscles grown using stems cells harvested from the eventual recipient. This method might also be employed for building other organs for transplant. Much work still needs to be done to make this a reality: the test heart was operating at only 2% efficiency, indicating that a number of fundamental issues need to be identified and resolved.

Art: Mosaic optical illusion

Mosaic optical illusion. Found on Neatorama via "Omni Brain", courtesy of ScienceBlogs

News: Nature online archive goes to 1869

Back issues of Nature are now available all the way back to the very first issue in 1869. Previously, back issues were available only to 1950. History of science buffs will enjoy reading about th e early debates about things like evolution from the time of Darwin.   Found on "BBC News" via MedGadget.

Tech: Tank Wheelchair knows no bounds

The Tank Wheelchair shows that the term "mobility challenged" can be a misnomer. Fully cushioned seats gives a smooth ride while the powerful electric motor can pull this baby up inclines of 10 degrees. It's only capable of a top speed of 5 mph, but is limited by only the most extreme driving conditions. Available in January for $15,600(US).