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An ear, unsurprisingly, is difficult to make from scratch. Ear cartilage is uniquely flexible and strong and has been impossible for scientists to reproduce with synthetic prostheses. …

So why not print one?

Print-out ears may be one step closer to reality, now that scientists are figuring out how to tweak 3-D printers to craft customized ear cartilage out of living cells. Though the printable ear hasn’t been used in humans, the goal is to make these ears reliable enough to be used for children born with deformed ears, and adults who lose them from injuries. …

To make the ear, Bonassar and his colleagues scanned the ears of his twin daughters, who were 5 at the time. They used a 3-D printer to build a plastic mold based on the scan. Those printers, similar to a home inkjet, lately have also been adapted to build chocolate, guns, and even kidneys.

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But, but…you can use those printers to make nuclear weapons in your garage…

catmman on February 21, 2013 at 10:15 PM

catmman on February 21, 2013 at 10:15 PM

::drool!::

OldEnglish on February 21, 2013 at 10:17 PM

Is there even a printer big enough to make copies of Bark’s giant rat ears?

Bishop on February 21, 2013 at 10:22 PM

What about, um, replacement organs slightly larger than the original?

Alright, a lot larger.

Xavier on February 21, 2013 at 10:23 PM

Xavier on February 21, 2013 at 10:23 PM

Possibly, but you might not be able to feel anything with it. So stick with your OEM.

Red Creek on February 21, 2013 at 11:07 PM

And not one mention of embryonic stem cells. Wonder why?

unclesmrgol on February 22, 2013 at 1:56 AM

I’ve been telling people this for years.
My guess is that one day we will get complete body scans and DNA will be stored for parts replacement.
First will come skin and teeth.
The problem will be that it will take a lot of energy and the biological tissue toner (for use of a better word) will be very costly; thus government sloth-care will not be able to afford it.

kregg on February 22, 2013 at 5:43 AM