Robot-assisted IVF produces first successful births.

Two baby girls have been born after being fertilized by a robot, marking a significant step towards automating in vitro fertilization (IVF) and potentially making the procedure less expensive and more common. The robot was used to fertilize more than a dozen eggs, resulting in healthy embryos. IVF labs are currently multimillion-dollar affairs staffed by trained embryologists, but some startups say the entire process could be carried out automatically. Overture Life, the startup that developed the robot, has filed a patent application describing a "biochip" for an IVF lab in miniature, complete with hidden reservoirs containing growth fluids, and tiny channels for sperm to wiggle through.