Tag: Animals

Algae can be used as cement, and help injuries to heal. Coral reefs, too, could use a little support. Enter a San Diego research team and its enticing new gel, comprising chemicals from crusty, calcareous algae. Their high levels of calcium carbonate attract coral larvae, which are essential for the growth and maintenance of reefs. Encased in nanoparticles made...

Cow dung has a lot to offer. Finnish research on the impact of penguins on the climate is no sailor’s yarn either. The flightless birds’ excrement secretes ammonia into the atmosphere, a fact confirmed by studies undertaken on a colony of 60,000 in the Antarctic. The concentration of ammonia was 1,000 times higher than it was without the birds....

Mini-robots could rid the ocean of microplastics. In Switzerland, a research team is turning to similar technology to analyse water quality, though the outer shell of its mini-robots is made from protein-rich, low-fat fish food. For movement, inspiration came from the so-called Marangoni effect: the robots move across the surface of the water by expelling gas. It is created internally...

Fluorescent agents and enzymes can combine to detect pancreatic cancer. In breast cancer diagnosis, butterflies could have a contribution to make, according to a San Diego research team. Key here: the morpho butterfly, home to microscopic structures in its wings which cause them to shimmer blue when exposed to light. Collagen fibres in stained biopsy tissue also respond to...

Magnetic fields strengthen weakened skeletal muscles. Having a heart attack destroys countless heart muscle cells, which can ultimately lead to heart failure. But as a Dutch research team recently discovered, heart repair may one day be possible. The team took its inspiration from the zebrafish, which, unlike humans, is able to restore its damaged heart’s cells within two months....

Subliminal noise protects music online as it confuses nosy AI systems. Some music can be confusing for humans too. Take this unusual streaming platform, developed by a British startup founder after years of research into animal wellbeing. Specially composed music, selected TV programmes and video blogs soothe animals when they feel stressed by fireworks or sirens, as well as...

Coffee grounds make for stronger cement. Other types of waste are increasingly popular too. (Using wine residue?) a Toronto-based startup is extracting nanocrystals from chitin, which is found in crab, shrimp and lobster shells. With a formula containing just 1% of chitin nanocrystal, the team has created a sustainable packaging film. A single-layer solution without chemical glue, it can...

Some glasses automatically adjust focus between near and distant objects. Many birds can see for miles while still recognising their immediate environment. Their retinas have a deep hollow, meaning they are more sensitive to light. With an additional fourth photoreceptor, they can also perceive blue, red, green and UV light. Inspired by this phenomenon, a Korean research team has...