Biomimicry News And Research

Scientists are first to 'unlock' the mystery of creating cultured pearls from the queen conch

Saturday, November 07, 2009 00:00 MST

In their natural form, conch pearls are among the rarest pearls in the world. For more than 25 years, all attempts at culturing pearls from the queen conch have been unsuccessful -- until now. For the first time, novel and proprietary seeding techniques to produce beaded and nonbeaded high-quality cultured pearls from the queen conch have been developed by scientists from FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

Mushrooms, water-repellants more similar than you might think

Thursday, October 29, 2009 00:00 MST

The same phenomenon that occurs when it's time for certain mushrooms to eject spores also occurs when dew droplets skitter across a surface that is highly water repellant.

Mantis shrimps could show us the way to a better DVD

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 00:00 MST

The remarkable eyes of a marine crustacean could inspire the next generation of DVD and CD players, according to a new study from the University of Bristol published today in Nature Photonics.

Spider web glue spins society toward new biobased adhesives

Thursday, October 22, 2009 00:00 MST

With would-be goblins and ghosts set to drape those huge fake spider webs over doorways and trees for Halloween, scientists in Wyoming are reporting on a long-standing mystery about real spider webs: It is the secret of spider web glue. The findings are an advance toward a new generation of biobased adhesives and glues -- "green" glues that replace existing petroleum-based products for a range of uses. A report on the study is in the October issue of ACS' Biomacromolecules, a monthly journal.

Nanometric butterfly wings created

Friday, October 09, 2009 00:00 MST

A team of researchers from the State University of Pennsylvania and the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid have developed a technique to replicate biological structures, such as butterfly wings, on a nano scale. The resulting biomaterial could be used to make optically active structures, such as optical diffusers for solar panels.

Lotus-plant-inspired dust-busting shield to protect space gear

Saturday, September 26, 2009 00:00 MST

A NASA team is developing a transparent coating that mimics the self-cleaning properties of the lotus plant to prevent dirt from sticking to the surfaces of spaceflight gear and bacteria from growing inside astronaut living quarters.

Secrets of insect flight revealed

Saturday, September 19, 2009 00:00 MST

Researchers are one step closer to creating a micro-aircraft that flies with the maneuverability and energy efficiency of an insect after decoding the aerodynamic secrets of insect flight.

Clemson research nets $2 million from NSF to mimic nature's probes

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 00:00 MST

The National Science Foundation has awarded Clemson University researchers $2 million to study ways to mimic the suction mechanism used by butterflies and moths to feed so that the same method can be used in medical diagnostics. The research will help develop a new class of fiber-based devices capable of probing and transporting previously impossible-to-reach liquids, such as those drawn from a single cell or tissue.

The invasive green mussel may inspire new forms of wet adhesion

Tuesday, September 01, 2009 00:00 MST

The green mussel is known for being a notoriously invasive fouling species, but scientists have just discovered that it also has a very powerful form of adhesion in its foot, according to a recent article in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The stickiness of the mussel's foot could possibly be copied to form new man-made adhesives.

Flying by the skin of our teeth

Friday, August 21, 2009 00:00 MST

Tel Aviv University says that teeth give us clues for building lighter airplanes and space vehicles

Secrets of the sandcastle worm could yield a powerful medical adhesive

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 00:00 MST

Scientists have copied the natural glue secreted by a tiny sea creature called the sandcastle worm in an effort to develop a long-sought medical adhesive needed to repair bones shattered in battlefield injuries, car crashes and other accidents. They reported on the adhesive here today at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

New angle on gecko research

Thursday, August 06, 2009 00:00 MST

Scientists discover trigger that deploys geckos' amazing grip

What scientists know about jewel beetle shimmer

Friday, July 24, 2009 00:00 MST

Iridescent green beetles could provide blueprint for light-reflecting materials

Nanotechnology may increase longevity of dental fillings

Friday, July 03, 2009 00:00 MST

Tooth-colored fillings may be more attractive than silver ones, but the bonds between the white filling and the tooth quickly age and degrade. A Medical College of Georgia researcher hopes a new nanotechnology technique will extend the fillings' longevity.

Stirred, not shaken: Bio-inspired cilia mix medical reagents at small scales

Wednesday, July 01, 2009 00:00 MST

Engineers used a novel underwater manufacturing technique to successfully build biomimetic cilia. The hairlike appendages mix tiny volumes of liquid to speed up biomedical reactions.