Researchers at the University of New Mexico have engineered ‘zombie cells’ – undead replicas of animal cells that may actually be stronger than their living counterparts.
According to a report at Energy.gov,
biologists at UNM’s Sandia National Laboratories have developed a
method of embalming the cell of a mammal with silica to create a
functioning replica of the original. The silica acts as a kind of armor
plating; when exposed to extreme temperatures the original cell was
destroyed… but the silica copy continued functioning.
Bryan Kaehr, head of the research team, says the term “zombie” is
fitting because, unlike mummies, which only imitate the appearance of
the living, these preserved dead cells just get up and go about their
cellular business.
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