Collaborate Disseminate
When leaping geckos crash head-first into vertical surfaces such as tree trunks, they’re able to hang onto that surface instead of bouncing off and falling to the ground. Scientists have discovered what allows them to do so, and copied the capability i… Continue reading New understanding of gecko landing process may lead to nimbler robots
When someone is suffering from a skin disease, diagnostic devices are often used to determine what disease it is, and how it’s progressing. A new adhesive skin patch could make doing so quicker and easier than ever – and it’s inspired by a diving beetl… Continue reading Diving beetle inspires a better diagnostic skin patch
While brain-implanted electrodes do show promise for applications such as restoring capabilities to the disabled, they tend to lose their functionality over time. A new coating, however, could allow them to work much longer once implanted.Continue Read… Continue reading Lubricated coating could keep brain implants working longer
Among other things, the mantis shrimp is known for having the fastest punch of any animal. Harvard scientists have now built a mechanism that simulates that punch, and they believe that it could lead to new capabilities for human technologies.Continue … Continue reading Tiny punching “robot” mimics the mechanism of the mantis shrimp
When lightweight composite materials are used in fields such as aerospace, it’s vitally important to know if they’re experiencing mechanical stress – before they fail. A new composite is able to do so, simply by fluorescing under UV light.Continue Read… Continue reading Lightweight composite changes color to warn that it’s been stressed
While we have seen eel-like swimming robots before, they’ve tended to simply copy the movements of their biological counterparts. AgnathaX is different, in that it utilizes simulated central and peripheral nervous systems for more robust performance.Co… Continue reading Robotic lamprey shows how two nervous systems are better than one
Given that they’re such naturally proficient swimmers, the physical structure of fish is increasingly being copied in the design of underwater robots. Scientists have now discovered that by adjusting the stiffness of their tails, those bots can swim mu… Continue reading Robotic tuna uses variable-stiffness tail for more efficient swimming
If you were a bird, chances are that you’d want to minimize the number of times you had to land and rest on the potentially treacherous ocean. A new study now suggests that multiple seabird species have thus evolved dark-colored wings, in order to stay… Continue reading Study suggests seabirds’ black wings allow them to fly longer
As if the ray fishes weren’t unusual enough already, it turns out that their sperm is also unique within the animal kingdom. Scientists have now created a robot inspired by those sperm, which may someday lead to smaller descendants that swim within the… Continue reading “All-wheel-drive” ray sperm inspire a better swimming robot
As honeybees collect pollen and nectar from flowers, they repeatedly bend and straighten their abdomens – yet with a minimal amount of friction. Scientists have now discovered what makes this possible, and it could have applications in human technology… Continue reading Friction-reducing honeybee hairs may inspire longer-lasting devices