A team of researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in Spain has succeeded, for the first time, in recording in real time and in 3D the implantation of a human embryo. Failure of embryo implantation in the uterus is one of the major barriers to pregnancy, and is associated with about 60 percent of miscarriages. Typically, it’s only possible to detect an embedded embryo several weeks after implantation, using ultrasound. It is a surprisingly invasive process.”Studying the implantation of embryos into the uterine lining has always been approached from a genetic and biochemical perspective. Making an Artificial Uterus to See the UnseeableTo capture the moment of implantation, the team developed a physical simulation of a uterus using an artificial collagen gel.