Scientists hatch chicks from artificial eggs to prepare for resurrecting extinct birds

On Tuesday, Texas-based biotech firm Colossal Biosciences announced it successfully hatched 26 live chicks from 3D-printed artificial eggs.

These synthetic shells, made from materials like titanium and silicone, use a honeycomb structure to mimic the protective and breathable properties of a natural egg. De-extinction efforts for birds like the Dodo or the 12-foot Giant Moa have stalled because there are no living species large enough to lay eggs for their engineered embryos. While some independent researchers argue the device isn't a true biological egg yet, the company claims the technology is now scalable enough to accommodate much larger extinct species.

The team will now focus on refining the internal nutrient delivery system to support longer incubation periods for more complex avian DNA.