April 21, 2012: Grow Them Bones? Yes, Thanks To Lego

Do you remember the scene in Harry Potter when the bones in Harry's arm disappeared? To regrow them, the school nurse gives the young wizard a dose of Skele-Gro. Fantasy now, but it could be a reality in hospitals someday.

Michelle Oyen at Cambridge University is learning how to regrow bones in her lab. What makes this story even more incredible is that Oyen is using a toy from Lego in her research. Instead of relying on expensive electronics or other certified lab equipment, Oyen turned to LEGO Mindstorms for help. The inexpensive toy gives her the flexibility to assemble, disassemble, and easily customize the tools she needs. Talk about a mind storm!

For more information on Michelle's research, read an article about the 2012 Google Science Fair titled:  Watch These Scientists Grow Bones Using Lego Robots. In the post, you'll watch the robots in action!

-- Monica Valentinelli