weddings

Scientists can now take bone cells from an extracted wisdom tooth, grow them on a scaffold in a lab and form new bone. Great breakthrough for medicine, right?

But...they are quick to use the idea in a rather odd way. Some couples are having their own bone cells grown in the shape of a wedding ring so they can exchange rings made of their own bone at their weddings. From BBC News:

Scientists obtain bone cells from wisdom teeth and then grow them on a "scaffold" material in the lab.

The efforts are part of a collaboration between scientists and artists aiming to learn how to craft complex shapes from bone tissue.

Examples are to go on display at an exhibition at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London.

Harriet Harriss and Matt Harrison, one of five couples involved in the project, have just been presented with their rings made from their bone cells.

Not sure what I think of that. Maybe I am just a traditionalist, but gold seems fine to me. (Mine happens to be three kinds of gold layered using a similar technique that samurai sword makers use to make swords, made by a Greek artisan).

Later in the article they actually get to some real science:

Eventually, the technique could be used to grow large bits of bone for people with cancer or who need bone replacements.