Scientists want to fix tooth decay with stem cells
Regrowing natural enamel would be better than a filling
The human body is a marvellous thing. But like anything built by evolution, it has plenty of flaws. Consider teeth. Whereas sharks grow new teeth throughout their lives, adult humans get one set, which must last 60 years or more.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “The root of the problem”
From the August 19th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Science & technology
How the Gulf’s rulers want to harness the power of science
A stronger R&D base, they hope, will transform their countries’ economies. Will their plan work?
Cancer vaccines are showing promise at last
Trials are under way against skin, brain and lung tumours
New firefighting tech is being trialled in Sardinia’s ancient forests
It could sniff out blazes long before they spread out of control
Can Jeff Bezos match Elon Musk in space?
After 25 years, Blue Origin finally heads to orbit, and hopes to become a contender in the private space race
Why some doctors are reassessing hypnosis
There is growing evidence that it can help with pain, depression and more
Academic writing is getting harder to read—the humanities most of all
We analyse two centuries of scholarly work