Slimy Simulation
Origin information
Updated 1/21/2010 by Clara Moskowitz
Link to source » msnbc.msn.com
Made aware of by Twitter user » @pauldavidwaltz (RT)
QUOTE
Since the best city planners around the world have not been able to end traffic jams, scientists are looking to a new group of experts: slime mold [...] a funguslike, single-celled animal that can grow in a network of linked veins, spreading over a surface like a web.
The scientists let the mold organize itself and spread out around these nutrients, and found that it built a pattern very similar to the real-world train system connecting those cities around Tokyo. And in some ways, the amoeba solution was more efficient. What’s more, the slime mold built its network without a control center that could oversee and direct the whole enterprise; rather, it reinforced routes that were working and eliminated redundant channels, constantly adapting and adjusting for maximum efficiency.
CORRESPONDING LINKS
Article published via » treehugger.com
Referring to » popsci.com (including videos, further videos are to be found via YouTube)
SCIENTIFIC PAPER
“Rules for Biologically Inspired Adaptive Network Design” available via » sciencemag.org
Science 22 January 2010: Vol. 327. no. 5964, pp. 439 – 442 | DOI: 10.1126/science.1177894
Sharks, Thorny Devils & Geckos
Origin information
Originally published Apr 15, 2008 by AAqtash
Link to original source » core.form-ula.com
QUOTE
But the main reason biomimetics hasn’t yet come of age is that from an engineering standpoint, nature is famously, fabulously, wantonly complex. Evolution doesn’t “design” a fly’s wing or a lizard’s foot by working toward a final goal, as an engineer would—it blindly cobbles together myriad random experiments over thousands of generations, resulting in wonderfully inelegant organisms whose goal is to stay alive long enough to produce the next generation and launch the next round of random experiments.
DESCRIPTION
Elaborate article, describing different “design by nature” examples, including pictures.
FULL ARTICLE
Link to original source » core.form-ula.com
Kingfisher, Boxfish & Bacteria
Origin information
Published 01. 9.09 by Jaymi Heimbuch
Link to original source (boxfish slide) » treehugger.com
Made aware of by Twitter user @Garden27
QUOTE
Biomimicry is the art, skill, intuition and science of turning towards nature as inspiration for solving our dilemmas. Nature has millions of years on us in perfecting forms and systems, and it’s about time we humans turn outward when we need answers. The field of biomimicry has already yielded hundreds of solutions. Gathered here in a slideshow are nine facinating examples of biomimicry at work.
DESCRIPTION
Recommendable Treehugger slide show with 9 concisely described examples of “Biomimicry in Action”
FULL ARTICLE
Link to original source» treehugger.com
A Matter of Structure
Origin information
Published August 6, 2009 by gd
Link to original source » robaid.com
QUOTE
The discovery that butterfly wings have scales that act as tiny solar collectors has led scientists in China and Japan to design a more efficient solar cell that could be used for powering homes, businesses, and other applications in the future.
DESCRIPTION
Goes quite into detail of the preparation process; interesting related articles are listed.
FULL ARTICLE
Link to original source » robaid.com
BIONICS SECTION
There are more articles to be found in the » bionics section
Spider Silk & Steel
Origin information
Published July 29, 2010 | Author Andy Soos, ENN
Link to original source » enn.com
Made aware of by Twitter user » @greencounternet
QUOTE
Spider silk is as strong as many industrial fibers. There is commercial interest in duplicating spider silk artificially, since spiders use renewable materials as input and operate at room temperature, low pressures and using water as a solvent. However, it has been difficult to find a commercially viable process to mass produce spider silk.
DESCRIPTION
Easy to read article, describing the fascinating characteristics of spider silk and the difficulties producing a similar fibre artificially. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, the Republic of Korea, came up with an interesting solution – they let bacteria do the work.
FULL ARTICLE
Link to original source » enn.com | Link to scientific institute » kaist.edu
CORRESPONDING ARTICLE
Including video “See how silkworms and spiders work their magic.”
Press Release 10-129 | July 29, 2010
Link to » nsf.gov
Hippo & Sunscreen
Origin information
Published by Tudor Vieru, Science Editor, 17th of March 2009
Interviewed scientist: Christopher Viney, University of California in Merced (UCM)
Link to original source: softpedia.com
QUOTE
Turning to nature for inspiration is the key to constructing a lot of things, from very tall buildings, shaped after bamboo, to, apparently, sunscreen, which now researchers believe can be successfully made from hippo sweat. While this may disgust some, it could, indeed, prove to be the best protection anyone could hope for. The bulky animals seldom stay in the shadow, and spend most of their day submerged in water or in mud, but with their backs exposed to the Sun.
DESCRIPTION
Concise article, describing how the crystaline structures of hippo sweat shatters light and therefore works like a sun blocker. And as things in nature are multi-functional more often than not, the sweat has also antiseptic and insect-repellent characteristics.
FULL ARTICLE
Link to original source: softpedia.com
A Visit to the Zoo
Origin information
Originally published by Dan & Chip Heath November 1, 2009
Link to original source » fastcompany.com
Made aware of by Twitter user » @sonaluna
QUOTE
Most of us don’t solve problems this way. We start by tapping the local knowledge, and if it’s insufficient, we go looking for specialists. But what if we’re following the wrong protocol? We should stop looking for experts and start looking for analogues. It’s a big world: Chances are someone has solved your problem already. And she might be an anteater.
DESCRIPTION
Well written article, explaining why companies shall let themselves be inspired by nature and team up with biologists, also describing some examples.
FULL ARTICLE
Link to original source » fastcompany.com
Upcoming Events
International
18th – 20th September, 2011
International Bionic Engineering Conference 2011
Boston (USA)
Link » bionicengineeringconference.com
Twitter-Account » @BionicIBEC
6th – 10th March, 2011
Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication
San Diego (USA)
Link » spie.org
March 16th and 17th, 2011
International Industrial Convention on Biomimetics
Maritim Hotel Berlin, Germany
Link » www.biomimetics-convention.com
Germany / Deutschland
Information concerning German and international events
Hochschule Bremen, Link » hs-bremen.de
—————————————————————————————————-
Germany / Deutschland
14. Oktober 2010
18:00 bis 20:30 Uhr
Kaminabend zum Thema Bionik
Fraunhofer IAO, Stuttgart
Teilnahmegebühr Euro 50,00
Link » www.nature4innovation.com
Austria / Oesterreich
September 22nd, 2010
Prospects of BIONICS for Functional Material Science and Engineering
University of Leoben, Styria, Austria
Fee: € 100,-
Link » ausseninstitut-leoben.at
06. – 08. Oktober 2010
bionik-A Symposium
Villach, Carinthia, Austria
Link » fh-kaernten.at
International
September 14-16, 2010
3rd International Conference of Bionic Engineering (ICBE’10)
Zhuhai, P. R. China
Link » www.icbe10.com
Beetle, Dew and Bottles
Origin information
Originally published 07.05.2010 by yankodesign.com
Link to original source » yankodesign.com
Made aware of by AskNature user » mehindesign
QUOTE
The onymacris unguicularis is a beetle found in the Namibian desert and has the most unique way of procuring water. Early in the morning, when the dew enriched fog is settled over the dunes, the beetle goes to the peak and positions its body in such a way that it helps in dew formation, and slurps up the water thus formed. Using this technique is the Dew Bank Bottle. It’s made is such a way that the steel body helps to assimilate the morning dew and channel it into the bottle immediately.
DESCRIPTION
The article offers picture and video material as well as an explanatory description of the functional design.
FULL ARTICLE
Link to original source » yankodesign.com