Rapid bone growth and underwater breathing: Putting the science of Harry Potter’s universe to the test

In the world of Harry Potter the young wizard undergoes two magical biological transformations: eating Gillyweed to grow gills in order to breathe underwater and drinking Skele-Gro to repair broken bones. Students have put these arcane medical practices to the test — and have concluded that a little magic might indeed be required in both situations to make them scientifically feasible.