http://www.biomimicrynews.com/ Engineering Marvels developed by studying natures complexity Thursday, July 10, 2014 00:21 MST en-us http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Squid_sucker_ring_teeth_material_could_aid_reconstructive_surgery_serve_as_eco-packaging.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Squid_sucker_ring_teeth_material_could_aid_reconstructive_surgery_serve_as_eco-packaging.asp Thursday, July 10, 2014 00:00 MST Squid tentacles are loaded with hundreds of suction cups, or suckers, and each sucker has a ring of razor-sharp 'teeth' that help these mighty predators latch onto and take down prey. In a study published in the journal ACS Nano, researchers report that the proteins in these teeth could form the basis for a new generation of strong, but malleable, materials that could someday be used for reconstructive surgery, eco-friendly packaging and many other applications. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Study_of_animal_urination_could_lead_to_better-engineered_products.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Study_of_animal_urination_could_lead_to_better-engineered_products.asp Wednesday, July 09, 2014 00:00 MST A new Georgia Institute of Technology study investigated how quickly 32 animals urinate. It turns out that it's all about the same. Even though an elephant's bladder is 3,600 times larger than a cat's (18 liters vs. 5 milliliters), both animals relieve themselves in about 20 seconds. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Carbon-fiber_epoxy_honeycombs_mimic_the_material_performance_of_balsa_wood.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Carbon-fiber_epoxy_honeycombs_mimic_the_material_performance_of_balsa_wood.asp Monday, July 07, 2014 00:00 MST Materials scientists at Harvard SEAS have developed cellular composite materials of unprecedented light weight and stiffness. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Collecting_light_with_artificial_moth_eyes.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Collecting_light_with_artificial_moth_eyes.asp Monday, June 23, 2014 00:00 MST All over the world researchers are investigating solar cells which imitate plant photosynthesis, using sunlight and water to create synthetic fuels such as hydrogen. Empa researchers have developed such a photoelectrochemical cell, recreating a moth's eye to drastically increase its light collecting efficiency. The cell is made of cheap raw materials -- iron and tungsten oxide. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Researchers_use_living_systems_as_a_guide_to_develop_advanced_technologies.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Researchers_use_living_systems_as_a_guide_to_develop_advanced_technologies.asp Tuesday, June 10, 2014 00:00 MST Biologically driven design leads to the development of novel multi-functional materials, miniaturized electromechanical systems, and reliable living tissues as a more sustainable solution to pressing technological problems facing the human race. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Tiny_muscles_help_bats_fine-tune_flight_stiffen_wing_skin.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Tiny_muscles_help_bats_fine-tune_flight_stiffen_wing_skin.asp Wednesday, May 28, 2014 00:00 MST Bats appear to use a network of hair-thin muscles in their wing skin to control the stiffness and shape of their wings as they fly, according to a new study. The finding provides new insight about the aerodynamic fine-tuning of membrane wings, both natural and man-made. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Nature_inspires_drones_of_the_future.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Nature_inspires_drones_of_the_future.asp Tuesday, May 27, 2014 00:00 MST Researchers have been taking tips from nature to build the next generation of flying robots. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Scientists_study_biomechanics_behind_amazing_ant_strength.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Scientists_study_biomechanics_behind_amazing_ant_strength.asp Wednesday, May 21, 2014 00:00 MST A recent study into the biomechanics of the necks of ants -- a common insect that can amazingly lift objects many times heavier than its own body -- might unlock one of nature's little mysteries and, quite possibly, open the door to advancements in robotic engineering. Ohio State University engineers combined laboratory testing and computational modeling conducted at the Ohio Supercomputer Center to determine the relationship between mechanical function, structural design and material properties of ant necks. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/How_octopuses_dont_tie_themselves_in_knots_revealed.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/How_octopuses_dont_tie_themselves_in_knots_revealed.asp Tuesday, May 20, 2014 00:00 MST Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have discovered how octopuses avoid getting tangled up in themselves. Their results suggest that a chemical signal in octopus' skin inhibits sucker grabbing so that octopuses don't grab onto themselves. The researchers hope their findings will lead to new classes of robots and control systems, and are sharing their findings with European Commission project STIFF-FLOP, which aims to develop a flexible surgical manipulator in the shape of an octopus arm. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Spiders_spin_possible_solution_to_sticky_problems.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Spiders_spin_possible_solution_to_sticky_problems.asp Monday, May 19, 2014 00:00 MST University of Akron scientists created synthetic duplicates of the super-sticky, silk 'attachment discs' that spiders use to attach their webs to surfaces. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Using_nature_as_a_model_for_low-friction_bearings.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Using_nature_as_a_model_for_low-friction_bearings.asp Friday, May 16, 2014 00:00 MST The mechanical properties of natural joints are considered unrivalled. Cartilage is coated with a special polymer layer allowing joints to move virtually friction-free, even under high pressure. Using simulations on J�lich's supercomputers, scientists from Forschungszentrum J�lich and the University of Twente have developed a new process that technologically imitates biological lubrication and even improves it using two different types of polymers. The results will be published in the science journal Nature Communications. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Manmade_artificial_shark_skin_boosts_swimming.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Manmade_artificial_shark_skin_boosts_swimming.asp Thursday, May 15, 2014 00:00 MST People have thought for decades that the rough skin of sharks may give them a swimming boost and now scientists from Harvard University, USA, have made the first ever realistic simulated shark skin. They also measured that the fish's sharp scales boost swimming by up to 6.6 percent while reducing the energy cost. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Which_has_a_more_efficient_engine_A_tuna_or_a_whale.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Which_has_a_more_efficient_engine_A_tuna_or_a_whale.asp Tuesday, May 13, 2014 00:00 MST A large whale and a much smaller tuna each propels itself through water. Which is the more efficient swimmer? It has been difficult to compare propulsion efficiencies of animals of different sizes, but now Northwestern University researchers have developed a metric to measure individual energy consumption efficiency and make such a comparison possible. (The two are almost equally efficient.) The new metric could help in the design of cars and underwater vehicles as efficient and agile as real fish. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Mantis_shrimp_stronger_than_airplanes.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/Mantis_shrimp_stronger_than_airplanes.asp Wednesday, April 23, 2014 00:00 MST Inspired by the fist-like club of a mantis shrimp, a team of researchers led by University of California, Riverside, in collaboration with University of Southern California and Purdue University, have developed a design structure for composite materials that is more impact resistant and tougher than the standard used in airplanes. http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/New_material_coating_technology_mimics_natures_lotus_effect.asp http://www.biomimicrynews.com/research/New_material_coating_technology_mimics_natures_lotus_effect.asp Tuesday, April 22, 2014 00:00 MST A unique and low cost method to coat materials is the subject of a pending international patent. Ranga Pitchumani of Virginia Tech's Mechanical Engineering Department and Atieh Haghdoost, a recent doctoral graduate from Pitchumani's Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory developed the process.