Biomimicry News And Research - July 2007 Archives
No currently known bacteria that allow termites and cows to digest cellulose, can power a microbial fuel cell and those bacteria that can produce electrical current cannot eat cellulose. But careful pairing of bacteria can create a fuel cell that consumes cellulose and produces electricity, according to a team of Penn State researchers.
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 | Army vet demos MIT prosthesis; device is first of its kind ...> Full Article |
 | There are many objects in nature, such as flowers, that are "pre-programmed" to develop into delicate, beautiful and intricately shaped forms. But can this pre-determined process be duplicated by man starting with plain, flat surfaces? ...> Full Article |
Bacteria that respond to human hormones -- the body's chemical messengers -- may enable the discovery of new treatments for hormone-related medical problems, including thyroid disease and some forms of breast cancer. Developed by Princeton chemical engineers, the sensitive bugs also may detect hormone-mimicking pollutants, which can disrupt normal processes in the body.
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Just as you juggle a mix of multitasking chores in this time-starved world, core products to Texas' agricultural economy - such as cotton - are on the clock to provide more new and interesting features before you and other consumers head on down the shopping highway.
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 | Geckos are remarkable in their ability to scurry up vertical surfaces and even move along upside down. Their feet stick but only temporarily, coming off of surfaces again and again like a sticky note. But put those feet underwater, and their ability to stick is dramatically reduced. ...> Full Article |
Researchers at the University of Warwick are co-ordinating a global effort to sequence the genome of one of the World's most important mushrooms - Agaricus bisporus. The secrets of its genetic make up could assist the creation of biofuels, support the effort to manage global carbon, and help remove heavy metals from contaminated soils.
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Push two magnets together and you'll set off an avalanche of activity, forcing atoms on each magnet to align their polarity with the intruding magnetic field. It may sound like a party trick for physicists, but you do it every time you press "Save" on your computer.
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 | Hey kids! Try this at home. Pour clean water onto a small plate. Wait for all the ripples to stop. Then mix a small amount of mineral oil with an even smaller amount of detergent. Squeeze a tiny drop of that mixture onto the water and watch in amazement as the oil appears to pump like a beating heart. ...> Full Article |
 | Infants learn how to move by recognizing which movements and positions cause them physical discomfort and learning to avoid them. Computer science Professor Oussama Khatib and his research group at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory are using the same principle to endow robots with the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and smoothly. ...> Full Article |
 | The ability of carbon nanotubes to withstand repeated stress yet retain their structural and mechanical integrity is similar to the behavior of soft tissue, according to a new study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. ...> Full Article |
Under proper conditions and with the right nutrients, the cells of animals and plants removed from their host tissues can continue to grow. The technique of propagating cells in a laboratory — known as cell culturing — is used extensively and for a wide variety of applications, from food science to drug discovery.
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A semiconductor membrane designed by researchers at the University of Illinois could offer more flexibility and better electrical performance than biological membranes. Built from thin silicon layers doped with different impurities, the solid-state membrane also could be used in applications such as single-molecule detection, protein filtering and DNA sequencing
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Insects make up more than half of the known animal species on our planet and they can be found in all kinds of habitat and feed on all kinds of nutrients. They can even be used in evidence in court cases. So we are talking about forensic entomology.
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The electronics industry believes that when it comes to circuits, smaller is better -- and many foresee a future where electrical switches and circuits will be as tiny as single molecules.
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 | The U.S. Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute has accepted a proposal by an Indiana University Bloomington biologist to sequence the genomes of six bacteria known to suck up nutrients from their environments using long, rigid stalks. ...> Full Article |
In one of the first potential applications of synthetic biology, an emerging field that aims to design and build useful biomolecular systems, researchers from MIT and Boston University are engineering viruses to attack and destroy the surface "biofilms" that harbor harmful bacteria in the body and on industrial and medical devices.
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 | University of California, Riverside nanotechnologists have succeeded in controlling the color of very small particles of iron oxide suspended in water simply by applying an external magnetic field to the solution. The discovery has potential to greatly improve the quality and size of electronic display screens and to enable the manufacture of products such as erasable and rewritable electronic paper and ink that can change color eletromagnetically. ...> Full Article |
 | Animals that alter their movement-based signals to overcome visually 'noisy' environments could lead to a better understanding of vision systems and improve the capacity of 'seeing' machines, according to scientists from The Australian National University. ...> Full Article |
 | While the shiny material of pearls and abalone shells has long been prized for its iridescence and aesthetic value in jewelry and decorations, scientists admire mother-of-pearl for other physical properties as well. ...> Full Article |
 | Members of the public will get to see how revolutionary scientists and engineers are proposing to make counters, sensors, calculators and other devices out of living bacteria at this year's Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. ...> Full Article |
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Fish can recognize a face based on UV pattern alone
Ancient DNA from rare fossil reveals that polar bears evolved recently and adapted quickly
'Anaconda' meets 'Jurassic Park': Study shows ancient snakes ate dinosaur babies
Scientists locate apparent hydrothermal vents off Antarctica
Mars Express heading for closest flyby of Phobos
Predicting the fate of stem cells
Artificial foot recycles energy for easier walking
New fiber nanogenerators could lead to electric clothing
What drives our genes? Researchers map the first complete human epigenome
Juggling enhances connections in the brain
Tracking down the human 'odorprint'
Fill 'er up - with algae
Scientists discover quantum fingerprints of chaos
Researchers help identify cows that gain more while eating less
Strength is shore thing for sea shell scientists
Mussels - material artists with grip
Artificial bee silk a big step closer to reality
Glue, fly, glue
Gecko's lessons transfer well
Mussel-inspired 'glue' for fetal membrane repair
Slime design mimics Tokyo's rail system
Unusual snail shell could be a model for better armor
Cockroaches offer inspiration for running robots
Dental delight: Tooth of sea urchin shows formation of biominerals
Copying mother nature's designs
Tough yet stiff deer antler is materials scientist's dream
The cause behind the characteristic shape of a long leaf revealed
Scientists are first to 'unlock' the mystery of creating cultured pearls from the queen conch
Mushrooms, water-repellants more similar than you might think