Collaborate Disseminate
If you’ve ever tried pulling a mussel off a rock, you’ll know that they’re pretty darn good at holding on. The secret to their success is a natural adhesive, which has now been replicated in a glue that could help keep orthopedic implants attached to b… Continue reading Mussel-inspired adhesive builds a bond between implants and bones
Trees such as maples have “fruits” known as samaras, which consist of a seed joined to a papery wing. Scientists have now created artificial samaras, which could be used to quickly and easily monitor soil temperature from the air.Continue ReadingCatego… Continue reading Airdropped spinning-seed-inspired sensors could monitor soil moisture
Over the years, we’ve heard about multiple systems that copy the structure of gecko feet in order to pick up delicate objects without breaking them. Korean scientists have now taken things further, by adding a means of harmlessly letting go of those it… Continue reading Gecko-inspired gripper does the twist to safely release delicate items
Earlier this year, we heard about some tiny robots that used a bio-inspired mechanism to jump high into the air. The makers of those devices have now tweaked the design, creating bots that jump very long distances – potentially allowing them to travers… Continue reading Tiny locust-inspired robots are champion long-jumpers
Pleurocystitid was a marine organism that existed almost 450 million years ago, long before the first dinosaurs. Scientists have now built a soft-bodied robotic replica of it, which could inspire new methods of locomotion for future robots.Continue Rea… Continue reading Prehistoric sea creature gets reborn as a soft-bodied robot
In order to function safely alongside human workers, robotic arms shouldn’t be hard and unyielding. An experimental new arm was designed with that fact in mind, as it mimics soft n’ squishy elephant trunks and octopus tentacles.Continue ReadingCategory… Continue reading Kinder, gentler robotic arm channels its inner elephant and octopus
Nobody likes getting needles, but unfortunately there are some medications that can only be administered via injection. That could be about to change, however, thanks to the invention of a suction cup that you stick in your mouth.Continue ReadingCatego… Continue reading A cup in the mouth may replace a needle in the arm for drug delivery
Although an increasing number of devices are being developed for use on or in our bodies, such devices tend not to be very … “body-like.” A new 3D printing resin could change that, by allowing for variable stiffness throughout single objects.Continue R… Continue reading 3D printing resin produces single items that are both soft and rigid
The desert-dwelling Namaqua chameleon has a pretty neat trick – it changes skin color to stay cool when outdoor temperatures rise, and stay warm when they drop. An experimental new coating could one day do the same thing for our homes.Continue ReadingC… Continue reading Bio-inspired color-changing coating could both warm and cool houses
Most robots use electric actuators, but this little fella packs a lot more punch. Researchers have created a new type of minuscule combustion engine that gives this tiny frog robot explosive leaping abilities, as well as fine movement control.Continue … Continue reading Soft micro-combustion actuators unlock explosive robot motion