A prototype of a stitchless jacket grows in a bioreactor.
Photo: The Tissue Culture & Art Project

Biological processes and structures have inspired artists for centuries, but it’s only in the last two decades that artists have started to collaborate with biologists to create works that use live human and animal tissues, bacteria and living organisms as materials. This emerging field of “bioart” can be extremely provocative, and brings with it a range of technical, logistical and ethical issues. Wired.co.uk investigates.

Phone batteries dying, spiderwebs of power cords — powering mobile technology can be pretty annoying for the average iPhone or iPad user.  But it’s ever more annoying — not to mention potentially dangerous — if you’re a soldier on patrol in Afghanistan losing juice on a critical gadget. Yes, troops in the field use their fair share of handheld gear, too. Now, the Pentagon is hoping to give them a power up with a wireless charging system.

Darpa, the Defense Department’s advanced research shop, announced Wednesday that they’re looking to build a short-range wireless power transmission system for...