Collaborate Disseminate
From next-generation body armor to new treatments for tuberculosis, marine sponges have plenty to offer the world of science, and now we’re seeing how they might inspire stronger and lighter skyscrapers and bridges. Engineers at Harvard University have… Continue reading Sea sponge skeletons inspire stronger, lighter load-bearing structures
The natural world is a great source of inspiration for scientists working on advanced adhesives, where everything from gecko skin to bee slobber have provided blueprints for next-generation materials with supreme stickiness. The latest example, inspire… Continue reading Cheap, reusable adhesive is inspired by the footpads of flies
Who doesn’t love robotic spiders? Today’s biomimetic robot comes in the form of Miles, the quadruped spider robot from [_Robox].
Miles uses twelve servos to control its motion, three on each of its legs, and also includes a standard HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensor for some obstacle avoidance capabilities. Twelve servos …read more
Our brains not only memorize things, they also forget them. While that may seem like a limitation, it’s a quality that’s been copied in a new hydrogel – and it may actually have some practical applications.Continue ReadingCategory: Materials, ScienceTa… Continue reading “Memorizing and forgetting” gel mimics the human brain
Although there are many insects with wings that fold down beneath covers when not in use, the earwig’s wings fold the most compactly. Scientists have now copied that folding mechanism, with an eye towards using it in human technology.Continue ReadingCa… Continue reading Earwig wings inspire new folding technology
Robotics projects are always a favorite for hackers. Being able to almost literally bring your project to life evokes a special kind of joy that really drives our wildest imaginations. We imagine this is one of the inspirations for the boom in interactive technologies that are flooding the market these …read more
As we continue to explore other planets, we’re going to want to know not only what’s on their surface, but also what’s underneath it. That’s where the Mole-bot comes in – it’s a robot that autonomously tunnels its way through the ground.Continue Readin… Continue reading Mole-inspired robot is designed to dig its way through other planets
It was seven years ago that we first heard about Harvard University’s HAMR cockroach-inspired robot. Although the bot was already on the tiny side, its designers have now created a version that’s just half its size – it’s time to meet HAMR-JR.Continue … Continue reading HAMR-JR is one of the smallest, fastest walking robots ever
A couple of years ago, Harvard University scientists copied the structure of snake skin to create a soft-bodied robot that gripped the ground as it moved. Now, they’ve applied that same thinking to shoe grips that could help keep seniors from falling.C… Continue reading Snake skin-inspired shoe grips designed to save seniors
A couple of years ago, Harvard University scientists copied the structure of snake skin to create a soft-bodied robot that gripped the ground as it moved. Now, they’ve applied that same thinking to shoe grips that could help keep seniors from falling.C… Continue reading Snake skin-inspired shoe grips designed to save seniors