Colossal Biosciences, a company focused on de-extinction, has announced a significant advancement in its efforts to revive the extinct moa, a flightless bird that once roamed New Zealand. The company has created an artificial eggshell, which it claims can support the incubation of a bird as large as the moa. According to Prof. Andrew Pask, the chief biology officer at Colossal, this novel shell-less culture system is both scalable and biologically accurate. However, the announcement has sparked skepticism among scientists due to the lack of detailed scientific data. Experts point out that while it is possible to hatch chicks from artificial eggshells, survival rates are often low due to inadequate oxygen supply. Colossal's silicone membrane aims to address this issue by allowing oxygen to pass through at rates similar to natural eggshells. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, particularly the difficulty of recreating a complete moa genome, as the species went extinct around 600 years ago. Ethical questions also linger regarding the ecological implications of reintroducing genetically modified birds into their former habitats.