Tag: biomimicry

Elephant trunks have inspired a microhydraulic robot. Meanwhile a research team in China has taken its lead from the ancient lamprey fish’s mouth to create its new hybrid suction disc, complete with a soft silicon lip which doubles as a seal on the outer edge. Instead of teeth the disc calls on the knobs of a Shape Memory Polymer...

AI can find sustainable materials for the textile industry. A startup in England, meanwhile, is focusing on the circular economy and the power of nature to create non-toxic colouration technology. Plants owe their dazzling colour to crystals present in their cell walls, which reflect light differently depending on how they are arranged. The team extracts these crystals from the...

Water fleas help curb the spread of algae. But fleas have also inspired an Australian research team hoping to guard implants against bacterial settlement. Fleas owe their jumping ability to resilin, an elastic protein that is highly resistant, non-toxic and biocompatible. Adapted as nano droplets with a large surface area and acting as a coating, the protein was 100% effective...

Folded cardboard paper protects objects during transit. Meanwhile, in Singapore a research team has taken its inspiration from the folds in elephants’ skin, features which prevent the endangered mammals from overheating. The idea? To use a similarly uneven surface to create sustainable, ‘cooling’ tiles. The team mixed mycelium with bamboo shavings, oats and water and shaped the mix into...

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....

Warmth stored in building walls can be converted into energy, while flexible solar modules keep interiors cool. Yet a research team from Germany is looking to regulate room temperatures without using electricity at all. Its shade-giving system for windows is modelled on movements found in woody fruits. Taking its cue from pine cone scales, the team developed a sheet...

A soap mix is helping to combat skin cancer. Sunscreen is useful there, too, but mostly not eco-friendly. Enter two Boston-based researchers who have pooled their knowledge of underwater molluscs to launch a new startup. Their experiments showed that colour pigments in squid or octopus could protect against the sun when combined with zinc oxide. After recreating the pigments...