Microscopic Origami

Alex

Shoji Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo, Japan, and colleagues, have taken the art of origami to new heights. Or technically, new smalls: the team managed to create microscopic origami folds using tissue cultures:

The team created flat origami designs by cutting thin plastic sheets. Then they grew cells that crossed the seams of the tiny plates. The first clips in this video use animal connective tissue cells, which typically help wounds heal, to make the patterns bend when nudged. But in later examples, the flexible joints fold automatically when rat heart cells are used.

The team hopes the process could eventually help create artificial blood vessels as well as other biological tissue.

New Scientists has the video clip you should watch: Link


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"Now Scout, it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." said Atticus.
Suddenly, there was a flash of gray and something struck the back of Atticus's head, causing his hat to fly off.
"Son of a - !"
"Jim, get my gun." Atticus said grimly, retrieving his hat from the ground and dusting it off before placing it back on his head. "It's time to start sinning!"
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Seriously planettom, that book is ridiculous when it says "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mocking bird." All the most annoying birds that wake me up at 6 in the morning, or dive bomb people, seem to be the mockingbirds. Really interesting that they can recognize people. I wonder how closely they can distinguish--were the volunteers the same build/hair color?
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They're smart and socially organized. I've seen a bunch of them gang up and kill a crow 3-4 times their size. Luckily after a couple of years I've trained them not to come/nest closer then a few hundred feet of the forest line to my property - any closer and you hear their annoying cawing. How were they trained you ask - with a scoped .22 of course.
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I saw a single mockingbird chase off a hawk the other day. The other day two mockingbirds were mauling a crow together. I love to watch them, but would hate to be a victim of their wrath.
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I was also wondering what exactly they recognize about a person, because there's one outside my workplace that has targeted me for some reason. I am toying with the idea of wearing a hat when I leave work :-)
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