BBC Knowledge Asia Edition - December 2014

Update

THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE

PHOTO: TUFTS UNIVERSITY

BIOENGINEERS

CREATE

ARTIFICIAL

‘BRAIN’

A groundbreaking method

has enabled the study of

complex, living brain tissue

To simulate layers of

the brain’s neocortex,

the neurones were

laid down in layers.

Each layer has been

coloured differently

with a dye

he ultimate science

fiction B-movie conceit

is a fully functioning

brain in a jar. Now bioengineers

at Tufts University, Boston, have

brought the idea closer to reality

after creating 3D brain-like tissue

and keeping it alive for more than

two months.

Until now researchers have

grown neurones in Petri dishes

for study. However, this method

can only produce growth in

two dimensions and so is

EARS HOW p

HORSES TALK

It appears that

horses have been

secretly chatting

with their ears

FISH LEARN

TO WALK

Scientists recreate the

moment 400 million

years ago when fish

left the sea

MARCH ON

Men find that

walking in

unison makes

them feel more

p18 powerful

p

T