Name: Ever Wonder Why Woodpeckers Don’t Get Concussions?
Uploaded: 2023-02-17T19:05:43+00:00
Description: Why don’t woodpeckers get concussions even when they are banging their heads into a tree 20 times a second?

Do you know why woodpeckers don’t get concussions? It was so effective that it inspired engineers to perfect the designs for airplane black boxes.

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Black boxes are important devices in an aircraft. Before commercial flights become successful, there has been a lot of trial and error in its early years which included several reviews of data regarding plane crashes and how to avoid them. If a plane crashes, there’s really not much to study anymore that could allow experts to review what caused a plane to crash and how to avoid it. This is where a black box becomes important. It’s a device that is used to store flight records and cockpit voice records, which would be helpful in understanding why a plane crashed. Black boxes are actually colored bright orange in most models to make them easier to find in a crash site. The most important thing about a black box is that it is designed to withstand impact, with standard models enduring up to 1000 g’s. To give you an idea of how durable it is, a football player who gets tackled on the field can already get a concussion with just a force of 90 g’s.As we know, humans tend to develop things with the help of technology, to either have a new method of doing things or to improve existing systems that we have. This is why a newer black box prototype is also developed to be able to withstand more than the standard as an improvement and this new design is inspired by a fascinating creature in nature - the woodpecker. Woodpeckers are small birds and from the name itself, they are known to peck wood. When these birds peck wood, they can do it up to 20 times per second, with each peck having a force of 1200 g&#39;s. Woodpeckers are able to endure this much force because of their amazing physiology.The first line of defense against such force is their unique beaks. Next is the hyoid bone behind their beaks which diverse the vibrations away. Lastly and most important is their soft and spongy skull which reduced the vibrations and impacts on the bird’s brain. From here, a new black box prototype was designed according to the woodpecker’s physiology and it allowed the new design to survive impacts even up to 60.000 g’s in some cases. Who would have predicted that this small bird would be the key to creating something durable like the new black box design? Perhaps in the future,  the integration of the woodpecker’s physiology in black boxes could also be used in other things to make them more durable.

Why don’t woodpeckers get concussions even when they are banging their heads into a tree 20 times a second?

Ever Wonder Why Woodpeckers Don’t Get Concussions?

How woodpecker’s perfect skull helped improve black boxes

A technique where engineers/scientists look at living organisms for inspiration on how to accomplish a task that has already been done by nature.

Engineers' Muse Videos | Interesting Engineering Original Videos

Willhelm Barthlot discovered the lotus effect. The lotus' highly rough surface, which enables air to get trapped in its cavities, was discovered by Barthlott's investigations.

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Wilhelm Barthlott discovered the lotus effect. The lotus&#39; highly rough surface, which enables air to get trapped in its cavities, was discovered by Barthlott&#39;s investigations. This prevents condensation from forming and makes it possible for wind to move water droplets across the surface, clearing away dirt particles.This lotus paint is now regarded as a perfect example of a natural world principle being applied to technology. Its microtexture mimics the surface of a lotus leaf thanks to its clever architecture made of filler material. As a result, it provides an effective solution to one of the most important jobs of facades: water management. Dew, rain, and fog have no chance of sticking to the surface and instead run off. Algae and fungi are deprived of the nutrients they require to grow, resulting in a pristine facade. The benefits are radiant color intensity, long-lasting UV and weather protection, self-cleaning facades, and a longer life cycle for your buildings. As like the rest of this series, nature has provided the best solution. We just need to realize it.

This prevents condensation from forming and makes it possible for wind to move water droplets across the surface, clearing away dirt particles

How The Lotus Effect Was Discovered

How the lotus effect was discovered

People have always studied and observed birds for their ability to fly. Modern airplanes use the same idea to take off. But, maybe there are other ideas we can take from birds.

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When birds take off, they raise their wings thereby creating a low pressure, and the body goes up through the process of lift. Airplanes use the same idea when taking off and landing. The scientists mimic the movements of the birds while modeling the wings.Most modern airplanes have fixed wings that cannot change in angles. However, these planes have flaps on the wings that move up and down depending on where the plane is. The developments on a plane wing are the flaps and ailerons. Scientists are working on a wing that morphs and has more motion similar to that of a bird.Along with changing how the wing works, research has been conducted in how the wing is formed internally and this research could contribute to using less fuel per flight.Could there be even more useful technology to be copied from birds?

Scientists have studied how birds function and if there are any new ideas they could take to improve planes.

Aviation Tech Looks Closely At Birds

What birds have taught us in aviation

Sharkskin has inspired multiple functions that benefit us, from helping swimmers break world records to prevent bacteria from progressing through hospital wards.

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Sharkskin helps sharks reach up to 43 miles per hour, and many scientists and inventors have examined it to find possible new solutions. In 2000 Speedo launched the first Fastskin suit, inspired by sharkskin. The swimmers who wore this suit at the 2000 Sydney Olympics broke many world records.But, it’s possible that the swimsuit was more useful because of experimentation than sharkskin. And now scientists are developing paint based on the idea of sharkskin to improve the movement of cargo ships and airplanes.Lastly, a similar idea behind how sharkskin works so effectively in water is being applied to the walls of our hospitals. This is an attempt to stop bacteria from wandering around wards and causing more illness in the healing communities. With the company’s CEO suggesting that these covers reduce transmission of bacteria by 99%, it could be possible that all our hospitals end up using these sheets to minimize bacteria.So, although these fish are deadly hunters in the sea and make for prime predators, it appears they have a lot to offer us.

Sharkskin helps sharks reach up to 43 miles per hour, and many scientists and inventors have examined it to find possible new solutions.

Sharkskin Stops Bacteria And Helps Swimmers Break Records

How sharkskin is keeping us healthy and speedy

These bumps appear at the front of a flipper and inspired a more efficient turbine

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Professor Fish was unaware that a whale’s flippers had bumps at the front, and only came to know this when he disagreed with an artist&#39;s sculpture. However, when the gallery owner overheard this they corrected Professor Fish by showing him an image of a whale with the bumps on the front.After years of research, Professor Fish started a company with Dr. Philip Watts, and Canadian entrepreneur Stephen Dewar to start WhalePower.

when the gallery owner overheard this they corrected Professor Fish by showing him an image of a whale with the bumps on the front.

What Do Whales and Wind Turbines Have In Common?

What do whales and wind turbines have in common?

Solving problems by looking at nature opens the door to a world many forget. Yet, the world is full of solutions for many of our problems.

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&quot;You can&#39;t teach an old dog new tricks,&quot; so the saying goes. But, it turns out, ancient creatures, like reptiles, can teach us young whippersnappers a thing or two about living on planet Earth. Certain reptiles have quite a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to potential new materials or technology.Take the crocodile, for example. These fantastic creatures are older than dinosaurs and have unique features that can be used to make new armor. Each crocodile&#39;s skin is covered with a thick layer of scales that overlap and work much like the scale armor that warriors used to wear. These scales work like an organic composite layer of protection that can stiffen when hit by something hard. By doing this, the force of an impact is spread out over a larger area, which makes it less likely that the crocodile&#39;s soft insides will be damaged. Engineers have noted this and are now making protective clothing based on the same idea. The BMW Group, for example, hopes to create PPE to help keep their engineers safe in the workshop. This technology could be used to make armor for soldiers in the future since it is light and robust. Interesting, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The crocodile&#39;s cousin, the gecko, is also teaching us some new tricks. Famous for their sticky feet, geckos can scale vertical surfaces with ease. By studying how they do this in detail, engineers are attempting to produce a special tape that works on the same principle. Geckos have adapted to take advantage of the tiny Van der Waals forces generated by millions of tiny hairs on their feet and a surface. This same principle, as engineers discovered, can readily be adapted for human use too. The adhesive properties of &quot;Gecko Tape&quot; are so strong that it can support the weight of a human from a ceiling. This is interesting in and of itself, but it could find other applications in disparate industries, from building maintenance to the space industry.Snakes, related to crocodiles and geckos, have also given us ideas for new ways to do things with robots. By observing a variable king snake scaling various obstacles, one research team gained insights into how to make a robot perform a similar feat. With this information, engineers have been able to copy how snakes move without limbs in different situations to make special robots that look like snakes and can easily climb over different obstacles. These innovative &quot;snakebots&quot; could have important applications in various environments in the future. These breakthroughs make it increasingly apparent that humans can make important solutions to problems simply by closely observing what nature has already solved. It is exciting to think about what else reptiles can solve for us simply by existing.

These robots imitate living creatures, and research continues to understand the inner workings and if they can be applied to our lives.

Solving problems by looking at nature opens the door to a world many forget.

How reptiles helped solve problems?

Architects and scientists have found inspiration from animals to create better-living conditions for humans.

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&quot;Nothing is new under the Sun,&quot; as the famous saying goes. When it comes to human ingenuity, this is especially the case. Despite our technological prowess and imagination, it cannot, at times, surpass nature&#39;s creative &quot;genius.&quot; Take tall buildings, for example. From the ancient pyramids of Egypt or South America to modern architectural wonders like the Burj Khalifa, humans have been attempting to build vertically for millennia. These structures have stretched their respective civilizations&#39; intellectual and technical abilities and are, undoubtedly, incredible engineering feats. But the animal kingdom has been at it for longer and on a much grander scale. One of nature&#39;s master architects and builders, the humble termite, is not bigger than your fingernail yet can build structures comparable to even our tallest structures with relative ease. These little insects can construct towers that would be some of the tallest synthetic structures on Earth if they were to be scaled up. What&#39;s more, they achieve all this using little more than Earth and saliva. But these towers are not just shelters, they also double as vertical farms for the countless critters that inhabit them.Imagine the reaction an engineering firm or architect would receive if they proposed such a thing today! Yet one architect, Mick Pearce from Zimbabwe, has taken the plunge and suggested making termite-mound-inspired towers.Pearce doesn&#39;t suggest building the next Burj Khalifa using only soil and spit, but he has noticed the potential for using termite mound architecture to produce more energy-efficient tall buildings.He noted that the funnel-like structures associated with termite mounds are superbly efficient and straightforward, providing &quot;free&quot; cooling for the colony. If this could be replicated in human buildings, it would drastically reduce the need to cool the building during summer height artificially. To date, Pearce and his team have designed a series of towers around the world that integrate fans at the base to provide a high-energy--efficient method of sucking in cool air at the base to ventilate the upper levels. Fascinating, but there are other ways that nature has inspired human architects to improve building energy consumption. One example comes from the University of Cincinnati. By studying the African reed frog and the Hercules beetle, they believe they&#39;ve hit on some interesting methods for reducing building energy use. The former can change the color of its skin to reflect sunlight in order to stay cool. The latter can absorb moisture when the air is humid to help regulate its body temperature. By combining these ideas with modern materials like heat-reflecting cladding and hydrogel insulation, the team showed that a typical Chicago office building could reduce its air-conditioning costs by up to 66%!This not only impacts the building&#39;s occupants&#39; running costs but also does its part to reduce wasted electricity. And it&#39;s all because nature shapes creatures to help them survive on Earth!

The animals in question are termites

How does nature inspire architecture?

Octopuses can change color. They do this for multiple reasons; attract a mate, hide, or send a warning message.

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The history of life on this planet has been driven partly by the constant battle of wills between predator and prey. This violent dance has forced predators to become cannier, use more sophisticated weapons, or face starvation and extinction.For their prey, they have had to become faster, larger, tougher, or work as teams to improve their chances of survival. But, with all the will in the world, these strategies rely on an animal&#39;s ability ultimately &quot;get physical.&quot; Wouldn&#39;t it be better to avoid being attacked in the first place? But how do you do that? By not being seen, of course. After all, as Sun Tzu famously said, &quot;the greatest victory is that which requires no battle.&quot;Nature hit on this concept millions of years ago and has gradually tinkered with how animals can avoid being seen. The zebra&#39;s stripes, the chameleon&#39;s skin, and the stick insect&#39;s body, are all sublime examples of this strategy in action. By hiding in plain sight, these creatures can dramatically improve their chances of survival in a world where they are on the menu! Humans are also born of nature and, for better or worse, have become our own predators and prey. While we may not hunt each other for food, we have been killing each other in war since the dawn of time. Just like the complex interplay of predator and prey, our military technology has evolved in much the same way. But, the advent of the firearm changed the world of war forever.Even the thickest plate armor cannot protect against a large and fast enough high-speed bullet. But the best way to avoid being hit by a bullet is to not be in its way!Even better is not to be the target of a bullet. This is where camouflage has proved invaluable for armed forces around the world. Camouflage technology has changed a lot over the years, from the famous &quot;dazzle camouflage&quot; of battleships in WW1 to the sophisticated strategies used by snipers today. But, these forms of camouflage are &quot;fixed&quot; to a particular environment. They cannot adapt dynamically like a cuttlefish or a chameleon. But that might be about to change.Enter Polaris Solutions, who might have developed the next evolution in camouflage for war. Its multi-spectral camouflage is inspired by nature and can hide objects from view in the visible, infrared, and even radar parts of the EM spectrum. This &quot;smart&quot; camouflage, inspired by the octopus, can change from clear to opaque depending on the temperature of its surroundings. You can be sure that this would change how soldiers fight on the battlefield forever, and it could be the first step toward making people invisible, like the Predator! And all thanks to nature-inspired engineering!

The history of life on this planet has been driven partly by the constant battle of wills between predator and prey.

How Does Nature Aid In Creating New Camouflage?

How does nature aid in creating new camouflage?

Bullet trains in Japan used to make a loud boom sound when they traveled through tunnels. A bird-watching engineer was able to fix the problem after he was inspired by a kingfisher.

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The Japanese Shinkansen <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/video/snow-is-no-match-for-this-japanese-bullet-train" title="bullet trains" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/video/snow-is-no-match-for-this-japanese-bullet-train">bullet trains</a> are a miracle of modern engineering. Despite being able to travel at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour (320 kph), they have also proved incredibly safe over their 50-year-plus history. But the early trains came with one major problem: they created sonic booms when they left tunnels. The sound was so loud, it was like standing in a room with a constantly running washing machine! Not ideal for local residents, to say the least. Something had to be done, not only for the residents&#39; sanity but also for their hearing. The first issue was determining why the trains were creating this loud boom. Japanese engineers soon discovered it was due to a phenomenon called “tunnel boom.” This is caused by the train pushing air through an enclosed space, like a tunnel, and building up an air pressure wave until it reaches the end of the tunnel. When the train exits the tunnel, just like a bullet from a gun, it generates sound waves of over 70 decibels over an area more than 1,312 feet (400 meters) away in all directions. Next, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/the-20-greatest-engineers-of-all-time" title="engineers" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/the-20-greatest-engineers-of-all-time">engineers</a> scratched their heads to find a solution. Slowing down the trains or avoiding tunnels was not an option, but, as it turned out, nature might have already solved their dilemma. Over millions of years, nature has tried out many different ways for animals to use their bodies to solve problems. The bird’s wing, the human eye, and the plant’s leaf are all examples of life “finding a way.”And, in the case of the “tunnel boom,” nature was, once again, leagues ahead of human beings. Enter the mighty kingfisher.  A small fish-eating bird, the kingfisher hunts its prey by turning itself into a high-speed fishing spear. From a raised perch, this little bird can leap, fall, and penetrate a water body at whim to catch its prey entirely by surprise with little or no splashing.An Olympic diver&#39;s dream, if you will. By studying the bird in detail, one Japanese bird-watching engineer, Eiji Nakatsu, modified the trains to give them their characteristically shaped noses. And, incredibly, it worked. After the changes were made, the Shinkansen’s “tunnel boom” problem evaporated, enabling locals and tourists alike to enjoy the majestic beauty of Japan in peace. It also had other benefits, such as reduced drag, improved fuel efficiency, and increased speed. And all thanks to a little bird. Nature, it turns out, might be the greatest engineer of all time!

.When the bullet train was first shown to the world in 1964 it was praised as a triumph of engineering.

How kingfisher inspired bullet trains?

Season 1

Lobsters’ unique eye anatomy inspired researchers to come up with a better X-ray telescope. 

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Don&#39;t miss out on the amazing deals with our affiliate links, click the link to find out more: <a href="https://skillshare.eqcm.net/c/3941438/1600825/4650?coupon=AFF30D23" title="skl.sh/interestingengineering" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie">skl.sh/interestingengineering</a>
<a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/chinese-aerospace-researchers-have-a-plan-to-prevent-armageddon" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/science/chinese-aerospace-researchers-have-a-plan-to-prevent-armageddon">Chinese researchers</a> have created an <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/spacex-successfully-launches-nasas-x-ray-telescope-to-observe-black-holes" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/science/spacex-successfully-launches-nasas-x-ray-telescope-to-observe-black-holes">x-ray telescope</a> inspired by the unique structure of a lobster&#39;s eyes. The Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy (LEIA) is designed to offer a wider field of view, enabling scientists to observe a greater area of the universe at any one time.Traditional <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/german-x-ray-telescope-snaps-its-first-striking-images-of-the-universe" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/science/german-x-ray-telescope-snaps-its-first-striking-images-of-the-universe">x-ray telescopes</a> had a limited field of view, meaning that only a small fraction of the universe could be observed at any given time. However, lobsters have evolved unique eyes that allow them to detect movement even in the murkiest of waters, using square-shaped tubes that reflect light from different locations on their <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/retinal-implants-artificial-vision-blind" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/retinal-implants-artificial-vision-blind">retina</a>.By using similar square-shaped tubes with mirrors inside, the Chinese researchers have created an x-ray telescope that can gather light from a wider area, providing scientists with more information about black holes, supernovae collisions, and exploding stars.LEIA is already operational and has the potential to provide new insights into the workings of the universe. The researchers hope that their work will inspire further innovations in the field of x-ray <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/astrology-vs-astronomy-whats-the-difference" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/science/astrology-vs-astronomy-whats-the-difference">astronomy</a>, enabling us to learn even more about our cosmos.The study was conducted by researchers from the<a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/china-discovers-new-mineral-on-moon" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/science/china-discovers-new-mineral-on-moon"> Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, who published their findings in the journal Nature Astronomy in 2020. The team used their LEIA telescope to observe a distant galaxy, capturing high-quality images that revealed the presence of a supermassive black hole at its center.In addition to its potential scientific applications, the LEIA telescope could also have practical uses in fields such as security and medical imaging. The researchers believe that their lobster-inspired design could be adapted to create new types of x-ray imaging technology with a wide range of applications. *This video might include a promotion about one of Interesting Engineering&#39;s partners. By shopping with us, you not only get the materials you need, but you’re also supporting our website.

LEIA is a lobster-inspired x-ray telescope that offers a wide field of view to explore the universe and study black holes, supernovae, and more.

LEIA: Lobster eye imager for astronomy

Observing the universe through the eyes of a lobster

Thanks to the suckers underneath octopuses’ arms, corneal tissue transfer surgeries are much easier now and take only 10 seconds.

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Don&#39;t miss out on the amazing deals with our affiliate links. Click the link to find out more! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbE1jZ3ZIYmMwcnQ4NWY3eXViNHc2OGVRclFfQXxBQ3Jtc0tuaTVsT05zYVdVZTlJdUpJR256TlpXR1JGa3hoV3lrUGxGOTc3NUZZcFFEWGx6dHBMSmdnRkVMXzBmbDlkXzd3RjQzUzdxV2thR2IzOFJVUTJnY3JDeVA0YmdtVHlXSEFsczQ5TkFEck13WEdHMWZkSQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fskl.sh%2Finterestingengineering&amp;v=MjeFgCW8oDc" title="" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie">https://skl.sh/interestingengineering</a><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/tiktoker-unknowingly-holds-the-worlds-deadliest-octopus" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/tiktoker-unknowingly-holds-the-worlds-deadliest-octopus">Octopuses</a> have always been a subject of fascination for humans. Their unique appearance and incredible cognitive abilities make them stand out among other animals. However, their remarkable talents do not end there. Octopuses possess incredible regenerative abilities and have the power to regrow their limbs if they ever lose one. But what truly sets them apart from other animals is what lies underneath their arms.<a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/octopuses-can-move-their-arms-and-suckers-without-any-brain-signals" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/science/octopuses-can-move-their-arms-and-suckers-without-any-brain-signals">Octopus suckers</a> are extraordinary structures that are dexterous, sensitive, and strong enough to crack seashells. By changing the pressure on these suckers, octopuses can grab both wet and dry surfaces with ease. The dexterity and gentleness of these suckers have caught the attention of researchers who have used them to solve an arduous problem in the medical field.Thin<a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/animal-human-transplant-organ-donor-shortage" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/science/animal-human-transplant-organ-donor-shortage"> tissue transfer</a> surgeries have always been a challenging process. Thin tissue is fragile and can easily crumble, which can lead to mishaps during surgeries. <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/bionic-cornea-are-a-new-horizon-in-curing-blindness" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/health/bionic-cornea-are-a-new-horizon-in-curing-blindness">Cornea</a> transfer surgeries, for instance, can take up to 60 minutes. However, researchers have developed a new device that can make these surgeries much easier and prevent mishaps.The device is inspired by the suction cups of octopuses. By manipulating the heat, the device can get a grip on the thin tissue and transfer it to the target area in just 10 seconds. The process is quick and efficient, reducing the risk of damage to the fragile tissue. The researchers have also found that the device can be used for other types of tissue transfer surgeries, including skin grafts.The development of this new device is a breakthrough in the medical field. It has the potential to revolutionize the way thin tissue transfer surgeries are performed. The use of octopus-inspired technology not only makes the process quicker and more efficient but also reduces the risk of damage to the fragile tissue.The study of octopuses continues to provide insights into new technologies and <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/14-strangest-innovations-ces-2023" title="" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/14-strangest-innovations-ces-2023">innovations</a>. The incredible abilities of these creatures have inspired researchers to create new devices that can be used in the medical field. The development of this device is a testament to the power of nature-inspired technology and the incredible potential it holds. It is exciting to think about what other discoveries we can make by studying the unique abilities of animals like octopuses.

Discover how octopus-inspired technology is making thin tissue transfer surgeries quicker and easier.

Thin Tissue Surgeries with Octopus-Inspired Technology

How octopus suckers made tissue transfer easier?

Spiders have an interesting method of producing silk that is stronger than still. This method might have inspired the most energy-efficient method of spinning we have.

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When it comes to <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/materials-lab" title="material" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/materials-lab">material</a> versatility, spider silk is in a league of its own. These arachnids use their silk to trap prey, navigate through their environment, and store food that they are saving for later. Among all the other animals that make their own materials, spiders have to be the most creative. We don&#39;t blame them for using their silk for everything, because it is truly a magnificent material.There is actually no standard spider silk, as they can produce different types of silk depending on what they are trying to accomplish. A spider can extrude up to 7 types of silk, each coming from a different gland. Just to name a few, the flagelliform gland helps with building webs resistant to impacts while aciniform produces material that allows spiders to secure and wrap their prey for later consumption. So, if it&#39;s such an amazing material, why can’t we harvest it in spider farms? We asked the same question in the previous episode on how mussels inspired underwater glue, but the answer is much more disturbing this time. Spider farms are generally not a good idea, because most spider species prefer solitary lives. When living in close proximity, they are known to result in cannibalism. To take advantage of this amazing material, without actually depending on spiders themselves, Spintex Engineering developed a new synthetic textile. Spider silk has a unique amino acid sequence in its proteins, utilizing glycine and alanine blocks heavily. When the liquid proteins come into contact with a lower pH gradient and get pulled from the silk glands, they solidify and turn into a material that is <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/materials-lab/season-3/ep-1-is-spider-silk-stronger-than-steel" title="stronger than steel" rel="dofollow" target="_blank" class="underline border-color-ie" data-id="embedded internal links" data-type="link" data-url="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/materials-lab/season-3/ep-1-is-spider-silk-stronger-than-steel">stronger than steel</a>. By developing a similar sheer sensitive gel and a biomimetic spinning system, Spintex Engineering created an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and non-toxic manufacturing process for a new type of silk. This might not seem like a big deal at first, but compared to traditional silk, this method uses a fraction of the energy needed to produce the same amount of textiles. The new silk Spintex Engineering developed is also biodegradable and doesn&#39;t require toxic materials to manufacture. The fast fashion industry is already notorious for the amount of resources and energy it wastes yearly on low-quality products that eventually end up in a landfill. This promising, biodegradable material can reduce the impact of the fashion industry on the environment.  It was so promising in fact that it was awarded the Ray of Hope prize in 2021, receiving a $100,000 prize. So the next time you walk through a spider web, remember you might be wearing a similar material in the future anyway.

Discover how spider's silk is making waves in the fashion industry as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fabrics.

How spider's silk is revolutionizing the fashion industry

Will spider’s silk reinvent the fashion industry?

Scientists have found a way to improve underwater adhesives by taking inspiration from byssal threads of mussels.

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We all probably know the quote: “Mother knows best.” No offense to fathers but this is actually true, as we will now be referring to mother nature in this feature. Some of the best inspirations can be seen in nature. Biomimicry has proven that we humans tend to find inspiration from nature in developing things. This is because nature has its ways of showing how evolution is an integral part of the survival of a species. Spiders have webs that can catch prey. Woodpeckers’ physiology allows them to withstand heavy forces while pecking wood. These are just some examples of how nature shows us things that we copy or use for inspiration in the development of the things we use. Now, let’s take a look at another one of nature’s creatures that inspires humans to create or develop new things - mussels. Initially, you might think it&#39;s because mussels are seafood but here, we would be looking at their ability to stick to rock surfaces. This is because the way they stick to rocks is quite strong in order for them to withstand ocean waves and predators. The strong attachment of mussels to rock surfaces is made possible because of their glue or their byssal threads. With the help of other proteins including dopa and lysine, mussels are able to create an adhesive that allows them to stick even underwater. From here, one might think that the glue of the mussels can be harvested and turned into a waterproof glue product. Unfortunately, that’s not the case as the glue of the mussels is produced in minuscule amounts. Harvesting this glue would take a lot of time and is not actually sustainable to make a commercial product. With humans being fond of biomimicry, researchers were actually inspired to create a synthetic polymer by mimicking the byssal thread of mussels. This allowed the creation of a glue that works underwater and is non-toxic. This development was so impressive that it even became a finalist in the   2021 Ray of Hope Prize for nature-inspired startups. This mussel-inspired glue would actually be something to look forward to if it continues to develop. Its non-toxic nature would then allow it to be used in numerous things such as in coral restoration efforts or even in medicine. Mother nature has once again proven herself in being the best by having mussels act as an inspiration in the development of a strong, waterproof glue that is non-toxic. What do you think would be the other things in the future that would be inspired by nature?

Is able to perform well in wet environments can be used in marine maintenance, medicine and even has the potential to help with coral restoration. 

How Mussels Helped Develop the Perfect Underwater Glue

This mussel-inspired glue might be the best underwater adhesive

Both 3D printing and drones are some of the fastest developing technologies in the tech industry.  Imperial College London and Empa got inspired by Mark Hansell's book, Built by Animals

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Between a wasp and a bee, it is undeniable that people would prefer to encounter the latter. This is because bees are generally known to be more friendly in the sense that they do not typically sting unless provoked. While bees are great, they won’t be the highlight for now as we would focus on their less friendly counterpart, the wasps. Wasps. Aside from being mistaken as bees, they are also known for being aggressive and for causing some of that quick ER visits. Most of these things are negative but, have you ever noticed how quickly a wasp nest appears out of nowhere? Even in urban areas, wasps can quickly build their nests in a quick fashion. These insects can communicate perfectly with each other by using pheromones. This is why a wasp colony is a good example of great teamwork. Hit one wasp and you’ll have the rest of the colony aiming to sting you. Kidding aside, this communication strategy in a wasp’s colony allows them to survive, find food, mark their territories, and create their nests. Therefore, wasps and their colonies are examples of great builders in nature and this is what inspired researchers to create a similar system composed of 3D printers and drones. Researchers presented a collective construction system called aerial additive manufacturing. This is a multi-robot framework that can build structures after a few hours using 3D printing and path-finding drone units. They work similarly to how a wasp colony would and they can go on and build structures with minimal human interaction. The way that these drones build structures is also similar to how wasps work in building their nests. A wasp colony has specific groups that perform tasks and in building their nests, they use external sources to create durable materials suitable for building their home. The 3D printing drone system has two groups: the  BuilDrone and ScanDrone units which have their designated functions crucial in accomplishing a building task. BuilDrones uses foam or a cement-like material in building and works harmoniously with other units. In the event that the drone runs out of material, another unit would come and finish the task. This wasp-inspired system of building structures just shows how much we have advanced through time and how nature continues to be the perfect blueprint for the things we are yet to have. Should these 3D printing drone systems be improved in the future, do you think it would be the new trend in building and construction?

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