3D printed tiles help revive coral beds in Hong Kong coastal waters

A project that aims to restore lost coral beds in local Hong Kong waters has found that hexagonal clay tiles made using 3D printing technology provide a suitable habitat for the species to grow and repopulate. Under a project launched in 2016, scientists from the University of Hong Kong placed tiles designed to look like coral on a sea floor an area of Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. Researchers found that after only two months, the coral had a 100 per cent survival rate on the 3D printed tiles beds.  …