The second best way to use plastic is to recycle it. Dave Hakkens presents on his webside how it works:
Category Archives: Uncategorized
What plasic does with our planet
Watch this shocking video about plasic on midway island…
A solution for this problem could be “Bioplastic”
Overview
inspired by a tree: bypassing problems will make complex systems more fail-safe
September 13, 2015 | separating | Comments (0)
Look closely at many tree and plant leaves and you will see an intricate network of veins. Besides the channels branching outward from a central stem, you may also notice many smaller veins in random directions, connecting with each other in closed loops. This complex arrangement is unlike the simpl
[ read more ]
Sea Cucumber-Brain Implant
September 13, 2015 | occurs when necessary | Comments (0)
Sea cucumbers are found on the floor of all the world’s oceans. Their tubular shape resembles a cucumber taken from the garden. The animals frequent shallow coastal waters and are also found in the deepest ocean. Sea cucumbers, also called sea slugs, are colorful occupants of many salt water aquar
[ read more ]
Shark Skin as an bacteria barrier
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
In the sea, a whale’s skin is home to barnacles, algae, and bacteria. In contrast, shark skin is squeaky clean. Parasites appear unable to attach to the shark skin. It is thought that the many small ridges and bumps on the shark’s skin surface discourage attachment. Bacteria prefer to colonize a
[ read more ]
osmosis
September 13, 2015 | osmosis | Comments (0)
Osmosis is the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a partially permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides. It may also be used to describe a physical process in which any solven
[ read more ]
Intestine - Fuel Tank
September 13, 2015 | shape | Comments (0)
This is an unusual example of practical designs found in nature. Automobiles have several new options for fuel including batteries, hydrogen gas, and natural gas. Natural gas is especially attractive because it is in good supply in the U.S., and emits only half the carbon dioxide of conventional fos
[ read more ]
Building based on mechanical stiffness of sea-sponges
September 13, 2015 | weight | Comments (0)
The Euplectella aspergillum is a cylindrical sponge that lives intropical waters. It has a height of 45 cm. Its exoskeleton consists of hydrated, amorphous silicon dioxide organized into a complexnetwork of spicules that supports the structure. These fibres, whichare 5-10 cm long and as thin as a
[ read more ]
Spider Web Glass
September 13, 2015 | use colors | Comments (0)
Certain spiders protect their delicately crafted insect nets with a special silk rope that reflects ultraviolet rays. Birds can see the ultraviolet rays and recognize the webs as obstacles they should avoid. If engineers can reproduce the effect, it might save birds from their occasional acci
[ read more ]
Honeycomb for stiff constructions
September 13, 2015 | weight | Comments (0)
Honeycomb structures are natural or man-made structures that have the geometry of a honeycomb to allow the minimization of the amount of used material to reach minimal weight and minimal material cost. Technical application: composit materials, low weight constructions Bionic applicatio
[ read more ]
your phone, inspired by yourself
September 13, 2015 | transmitter | Comments (0)
The eardrum is a marvel of engineering. As thin as tissue paper, it vibrates in response to the slightest changes in air pressure. If the eardrum surface moves inward a distance equal to the diameter of a single atom, one hundred millionth of a centimeter, a distinct sound is perceived. Clearly, a
[ read more ]
Use algae to create meachanical nano gears
September 13, 2015 | tension | Comments (0)
Diatoms are microscopic, single-celled algae. They are typically a few microns in diameter, ten times smaller than the width of a human hair. There are many thousands of distinct diatom species known, in both plant and animal varieties. They exist in countless numbers in the sea and are the base of
[ read more ]
will our lungs help to reduce carbon dioxid emissions on our planet?
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Our hard-working lungs clearly show intelligent planning. Within our lungs, countless tiny air sacks called alveoli exchange gases from the bloodstream, supplying fresh oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. The component membranes which allow separation and passage of the gases are about one thousand
[ read more ]
dandelion roots as substitute for common rubber
September 13, 2015 | speed | Comments (0)
Continental has at the Commercial Vehicle IAA his future version of the tire presents: Sustainable, and especially less dependent on price fluctuations than the usual natural rubber, is the tire manufacturer on the commodity dandelion. On Tuesday the first test tire rubber from dandelions was prese
[ read more ]
Building based on mechanical stiffness of sea-sponges
September 13, 2015 | weight | Comments (0)
The Euplectella aspergillum is a cylindrical sponge that lives intropical waters. It has a height of 45 cm. Its exoskeleton consists of hydrated, amorphous silicon dioxide organized into a complexnetwork of spicules that supports the structure. These fibres, whichare 5-10 cm long and as thin as a
[ read more ]
Desert beatle help us to harvest water
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
To drink water, the S. gracilipes stands on a small ridge of sand using its long, spindly legs. Technical application: water bottles, tents for refugees, Steam Power Condensers, Refrigeration, Atmospheric Water Generation Bionic application: Further description: Physical effec
[ read more ]
flexible eye lens focused by a fluid
September 13, 2015 | volume | Comments (0)
The lens in our eye has a special designed feature called accommodation. That is, the lens changes shape, curvature, or focal length to bring images into focus. When we look at a far distant object the lens becomes thinner. For nearby objects the lens thickens and becomes rounder for clear vision.
[ read more ]
bio-inspired spring to reach your tall targets
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
It has long been known that many climbing plants produce unusual tendrils for grasping and climbing. When stretched tightly, the spiral-shaped fibers do not unwind to a flat ribbon like a typical spring shape such as a telephone cord. Instead, when stretched, sections of the fiber coil further in t
[ read more ]
Phase transitions
September 13, 2015 | phase transitions | Comments (0)
A phase transition is the transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase or state of matter to another one by heat transfer. The term is most commonly used to describe transitions between solid, liquid and gaseous states of matter, and, in rare cases, plasma. http://e
[ read more ]
stegosaurus plates for innovative wind-turbines
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
Thousands of wind turbines have been installed worldwide in recent years for the production of clean electric energy. Efforts continue to make the large turbines efficient and quiet. One successful modification of existing turbine blades is inspired by the stegosaur. Technical applicat
[ read more ]
use liana or an air-beam to conquer long distances
September 13, 2015 | weight | Comments (0)
Tensairity® is a revolutionary light weight beam element developed by Airlight Ldt. The synergetic combination of an airbeam, cables and struts leads to this extraordinary light weight structure, using very low internal pressure but with the load bearing capacity of conventional steel girders.
[ read more ]
Shark´s skin make us faster
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Technical application: swim suit, clean surfaces, glue this foil on airplanes, small riffles will cause turbulance and degrease friction. Bionic application: shark skin, plankton, insects wing Further description: Electron micr
[ read more ]
Festo´s world of bionic solutions
September 13, 2015 | swarm intelligence | Comments (0)
Festo has been working intensively on the topic of bionics since the early 90s. In 2006, the Bionic Learning Network was launched – an association of renowned universities, institutes and development companies. Since this time, Festo has been developing and supporting projects and test objects who
[ read more ]
Human climbing with efficiently scaled gecko-inspired dry adhesives
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
We present a mechanical concept which improves upon the gecko's non-uniform load-sharing and results in a nearly even load distribution over multiple patches of gecko-inspired adhesive. Since the discovery of the mechanism of adhesion in geckos, many synthetic dry adhesives have been developed wi
[ read more ]
Leaves learn us how to produce electricity and harvest water
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Transpiration is the evaporation of water from the leaves of plants and trees. The undersides of leaves are dotted with hundreds of tiny openings called stoma. Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through these pores, and water escapes. A mature tree may evaporate hundreds of gallons of water on a warm,
[ read more ]
Leave inspire for more flexible robots, grabbers and operation tools
September 13, 2015 | shape | Comments (0)
Many plant blossoms open and close on a daily schedule and slowly follow the sun across the sky. Other plants display more vigorous behavior. The small leaves fold inward in just seconds and then slowly reopen. The active plant grows worldwide and the Latin term pudica means shy, bashful, or shrin
[ read more ]
Intestine - Fuel Tank
September 13, 2015 | shape | Comments (0)
This is an unusual example of practical designs found in nature. Automobiles have several new options for fuel including batteries, hydrogen gas, and natural gas. Natural gas is especially attractive because it is in good supply in the U.S., and emits only half the carbon dioxide of conventional fos
[ read more ]
electric eel inspires for medical implant
September 13, 2015 | power | Comments (0)
The 650 volts of electricity and one ampere of current is sufficient to stun large sea creatures within about two meters distance. The electric eel's ability comes from 5000-6000 internal layers of cells or electroplaques, stacked in a series circuit like the cells of a car battery.
[ read more ]
walefin for optimized turbines
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
The humpback whale has pronounced bumps or tubercles along the leading edge of its pectoral flippers (above left). A idealized model of the flipper (above upper right), which was tested in a wind tunnel, demonstrated that the tubercles enhanced hydrodynamic performance... Technical application:
[ read more ]
Snail - Robotics
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
The snail is probably one of the most picked-on creatures in the world. How could this small, slow animal possibly benefit anyone, other than on the French menu as escargot? However, researchers are now copying the design of the snail when making small robots. Technical application: Bio
[ read more ]
Building based on mechanical stiffness of sea-sponges
September 13, 2015 | weight | Comments (0)
The Euplectella aspergillum is a cylindrical sponge that lives intropical waters. It has a height of 45 cm. Its exoskeleton consists of hydrated, amorphous silicon dioxide organized into a complexnetwork of spicules that supports the structure. These fibres, whichare 5-10 cm long and as thin as a
[ read more ]
Miracle Tree helps to get clean Water for a cheap price
September 13, 2015 | self service | Comments (0)
In today’s world more than one billion people lack access to clean drinking water. This leads to untold suffering and death from dysentery, typhoid, and other diseases associated with contaminated water sources. Children are especially victims of unsafe water. One solution to this serious problem
[ read more ]
ultra-small lab equipment based on Bladderworts roots
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
One of the smallest traps in the world is inspiring physicists in studies of fluids. Bladderworts are a type of plant that grows in standing water or wet soil, and sometimes in very rough conditions. A unique aspect of this plant is its underwater roots which include many microscopic bladder-like t
[ read more ]
cavitation
September 13, 2015 | Cavitation | Comments (0)
Cavitation is the formation of vapour cavities in a liquid – i.e. small liquid-free zones ("bubbles" or "voids") – that are the consequence of forces acting upon the liquid. It usually occurs when a liquid is subjected to rapid changes of pressure that cause the formation of cavities where the p
[ read more ]
Desert beatle help us to harvest water
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
To drink water, the S. gracilipes stands on a small ridge of sand using its long, spindly legs. Technical application: water bottles, tents for refugees, Steam Power Condensers, Refrigeration, Atmospheric Water Generation Bionic application: Further description: Physical effec
[ read more ]
convert airpollution to ink for your desktop-printer?
September 13, 2015 | Post Growth Economy | Comments (0)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqOplj2HSdE
[ read more ]
eye-lens camera contact lens and monitoring your body for health purposes
September 13, 2015 | separating | Comments (0)
First watch the video below! Cameras have long mimicked the optics of the eye. Both collect and focus light with a convex outer lens. However, cameras have a shortcoming: They typically focus the image onto a flat surface. Whether this surface is covered with film or a digital sensor, distortio
[ read more ]
future glass will withstand the impact of a baseball
September 13, 2015 | stability | Comments (0)
How do sea shells stay in one piece as they are buffeted constantly by strong currents and waves? After all, most shells consist of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) which is a brittle and relatively weak material. Calcium carbonate takes many forms including marble, limestone, and chalk. One secret of s
[ read more ]
mimic the chameleons tongue will offer new robot arms
September 13, 2015 | rough instead of smooth | Comments (0)
Chameleons display many design features including changing skin color and stereoscopic eyesight. Another feature is their ability to capture insects with an extended tongue. Upon sighting fresh prey, the chameleon quickly extends its tongue to twice its body length. The tongue moves outward at ten m
[ read more ]
gecko feet sticks by the force of electricity
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Electronic circuits typically constructed on very thin silicon surfaces. Now, suppose that we want to transfer such a circuit unto a non-flat surface such as cloth or leather. Circuits are fragile and any surface contact during movement can be destructive. Researchers at Northwestern University and
[ read more ]
Desert beatle help us to harvest water
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
To drink water, the S. gracilipes stands on a small ridge of sand using its long, spindly legs. Technical application: water bottles, tents for refugees, Steam Power Condensers, Refrigeration, Atmospheric Water Generation Bionic application: Further description: Physical effec
[ read more ]
"Killer Whales" inspire for Undersea Hydrophone
September 13, 2015 | periodical action | Comments (0)
Sound is always produced and heard as a vibration, whether a violin string, vocal chords, or an ear drum. Sound vibrations in our hearing range vary between 20 and 20,000 cycles per second. Sound waves travel in air as vibrating air molecules, and also through water as pressure waves. Underwater mic
[ read more ]
Razor Clam - Anchor
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
The razor clam has a long narrow shell, somewhat resembling an old-fashioned straight razor. The shells also have a sharp edge. The clam is hunted for food in exposed mudflats along the ocean shoreline. Its defense against people and predators is an impressive ability to burrow underground rapidly
[ read more ]
Sand fish might help rescue teams
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
The sandfish is a species of skink that burrows into the sand and swims through it. Technical application: reduce friction, might help rescue teams to "dive" into collapsed buildings Bionic application: Further description: Physical effects applied: Video: Cont
[ read more ]
An exciting view on bionic engineering
September 13, 2015 | multifunctionality | Comments (0)
http://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_the_new_bionics_that_let_us_run_climb_and_dance
[ read more ]
Self healing materials
September 13, 2015 | self service | Comments (0)
Many processes in organisms based on the self-organization of biological components. For materials scientists, such substances are a dream: you react autonomously to their environment and can adapt to this different conditions. At the U.S. MIT researchers aim to produce such wonders molecules artifi
[ read more ]
Wild animals (macrosystem) show the same behavior like electrons (microsystem)
September 13, 2015 | flexible cover | Comments (0)
The search for a solution led McRae, now a biologist at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, to his past life as an electrical engineer. He had a hunch that the way animals travel through a landscape might be similar to how electricity moves across circuits. If that were the c
[ read more ]
Fuel-cell powered by rust?
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
In the quest for the production of renewable and clean energy, photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) constitute a sort of a Holy Grail. Technical application: power train for cars or other vehicles Bionic application: Further description: Physical effects applied: Video: htt
[ read more ]
Seashells are harder than ceramics and can be printed by your desktop 3D printer?
September 13, 2015 | tension | Comments (0)
For example, an abalone shell is stronger than high-tech ceramics because of its internal structure. Diatom shells are made of silica (glass), but they are extremely strong because of their stress-distributing pattern of holes. Like nature, 3-D printers can excel at building complex structures fr
[ read more ]
Human climbing with efficiently scaled gecko-inspired dry adhesives
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
We present a mechanical concept which improves upon the gecko's non-uniform load-sharing and results in a nearly even load distribution over multiple patches of gecko-inspired adhesive. Since the discovery of the mechanism of adhesion in geckos, many synthetic dry adhesives have been developed wi
[ read more ]
Shark Skin as an bacteria barrier
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
In the sea, a whale’s skin is home to barnacles, algae, and bacteria. In contrast, shark skin is squeaky clean. Parasites appear unable to attach to the shark skin. It is thought that the many small ridges and bumps on the shark’s skin surface discourage attachment. Bacteria prefer to colonize a
[ read more ]
Sea Urchin inspires for Self-sharpening Tools
September 13, 2015 | stability | Comments (0)
The sea urchin is well known for its many outward-pointing spines. However, five symmetric teeth at the center of its body are even more impressive than the spines. These teeth are able to chew through solid rock, making a cavity in which the sea urchin hides and withstands the surge of water curre
[ read more ]
bionic penguin as diving robot
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
‘Nature demonstrates how maximum performance can be achieved with minimum energy consumption,’ a Festo spokesman said. “The life-size bionic birds are hydrodynamic and can turn like real penguins because of the flexible glass fibre rods that control their heads. Technical application: su
[ read more ]
scorpion "skin" for more abrasion resistance
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
A species of North African scorpion does not mind getting sand blasted or whipped by desert winds. While other desert creatures burrow downward for protection, the scorpion scurries in the open and withstands abrasion. Studies reveal that its surface is covered with many hardened, dome-shaped bumps
[ read more ]
Morpho butterfly; color without pigments
September 13, 2015 | use colors | Comments (0)
Many morpho butterflies are colored in metallic, shimmering shades of blues and greens. These colors are not a result of pigmentation but are an example of iridescence through structural coloration: the microscopic scales covering the Morpho's wings reflect incident light repeatedly at successive la
[ read more ]
Alligator Blood for Antibiotics
September 13, 2015 | self service | Comments (0)
Many American alligators live in stagnant, polluted waters. Their diet includes diseased, infected, and injured animals. In addition, fierce battles with prey often lead to wounds. Nevertheless, the alligators tend to remain healthy. Technical application: Bionic application:
[ read more ]
Scientists Mimic Fireflies to Make Brighter LEDs
September 13, 2015 | power | Comments (0)
The nighttime twinkling of fireflies has inspired scientists to modify a light-emitting diode (LED) so it is more than one and a half times as efficient as the original. Researchers from Belgium, France, and Canada studied the internal structure of firefly lanterns, the organs on the bioluminescent
[ read more ]
Pilot Whale for a Self-cleaning Ship Hull and safe of fuel costs
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
Long-finned pilot whales swim in cool regions of the oceans. They grow to 12-16 feet in length and weigh several tons. The whales are characterized by an enlarged forehead and a swimming behavior similar to dolphins. The creatures are found to have highly-specialized apparatus for maintaining smoot
[ read more ]
Shark´s skin make us faster
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Technical application: swim suit, clean surfaces, glue this foil on airplanes, small riffles will cause turbulance and degrease friction. Bionic application: shark skin, plankton, insects wing Further description: Electron micr
[ read more ]
bio-inspired spring to reach your tall targets
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
It has long been known that many climbing plants produce unusual tendrils for grasping and climbing. When stretched tightly, the spiral-shaped fibers do not unwind to a flat ribbon like a typical spring shape such as a telephone cord. Instead, when stretched, sections of the fiber coil further in t
[ read more ]
shoals of fish will offer their secret for windfarms
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
Wind turbines are the Colossus of the modern landscape, their blades sweeping circles more than a football field in diameter. Critics call them unsightly and say that the rotating blades clobber unsuspecting birds. John Dabiri of Caltech found a solution underwater. He built an experimental wind
[ read more ]
evaporation engine
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=291&v=Vj2kuZm-aCA
[ read more ]
stegosaurus plates for innovative wind-turbines
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
Thousands of wind turbines have been installed worldwide in recent years for the production of clean electric energy. Efforts continue to make the large turbines efficient and quiet. One successful modification of existing turbine blades is inspired by the stegosaur. Technical applicat
[ read more ]
Fluid wood instead of plastic for incredible structures
September 13, 2015 | weight | Comments (0)
Arboform acts a lot like any other petroleum-based plastic to a manufacturer. It can be injection-molded as a heated liquid to form any shape. But Arboform is not made of petroleum. Instead, it is made of “Lignin, combined with resins, flax and other natural fibers” as described in this article:
[ read more ]
beaver teeths for sharp cutting-tools
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
German engineers have applied the tooth sharpening ability of rodents to cutting tools. Beavers, rats, rabbits and similar rodents depend on their teeth for survival. They are experts at gnawing, and their teeth are designed with a self-sharpening ability. Unlike our own, rodent teeth are covered
[ read more ]
Festo´s world of bionic solutions
September 13, 2015 | swarm intelligence | Comments (0)
Festo has been working intensively on the topic of bionics since the early 90s. In 2006, the Bionic Learning Network was launched – an association of renowned universities, institutes and development companies. Since this time, Festo has been developing and supporting projects and test objects who
[ read more ]
Salt-Nano wire for high speed data transfer
September 13, 2015 | transmitter | Comments (0)
We are all familiar with table salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl). This essential, common compound is ordinarily crystalline and brittle in nature. However, many materials behave strangely on the scale of minute quantities, and salt is no exception. Researchers at Boston College have explored tiny sal
[ read more ]
Wild animals (macrosystem) show the same behavior like electrons (microsystem)
September 13, 2015 | flexible cover | Comments (0)
The search for a solution led McRae, now a biologist at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, to his past life as an electrical engineer. He had a hunch that the way animals travel through a landscape might be similar to how electricity moves across circuits. If that were the c
[ read more ]
use liana or an air-beam to conquer long distances
September 13, 2015 | weight | Comments (0)
Tensairity® is a revolutionary light weight beam element developed by Airlight Ldt. The synergetic combination of an airbeam, cables and struts leads to this extraordinary light weight structure, using very low internal pressure but with the load bearing capacity of conventional steel girders.
[ read more ]
tree frog climb wet and dirty surfaces as well as upside down surfaces without falling
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Here is an activity to try with a length of adhesive tape. Press the tape against a dusty surface several times. As expected, the tape quickly loses its holding strength as dust particles collect and coat the sticky side. In contrast, consider tree frogs which thrive in dusty, wet, or muddy surround
[ read more ]
Harvest gold out of plants - Phytomining
September 13, 2015 | separating | Comments (0)
The technique of phytomining involves growing a crop of a metal-hyperaccumulating plant species, harvesting the biomass and burning it to produce a bio-ore. In the first phytomining experiment, it was found that a yield of 100 kg/ha of sulphur-free Ni could be produced. Technical application:
[ read more ]
will our lungs help to reduce carbon dioxid emissions on our planet?
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Our hard-working lungs clearly show intelligent planning. Within our lungs, countless tiny air sacks called alveoli exchange gases from the bloodstream, supplying fresh oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. The component membranes which allow separation and passage of the gases are about one thousand
[ read more ]
sugar for Vaccines conservation
September 13, 2015 | transmitter | Comments (0)
Nova’s stabilisation platforms are based on a sugar-glass stabilization concept. The inspiration for this technology arose from observations of anhydrobiotic organisms, such as the Resurrection Plant (Selaginella lepidophylla), which can protect themselves from extreme desiccation. Such organisms
[ read more ]
Pilot Whale for a Self-cleaning Ship Hull and safe of fuel costs
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
Long-finned pilot whales swim in cool regions of the oceans. They grow to 12-16 feet in length and weigh several tons. The whales are characterized by an enlarged forehead and a swimming behavior similar to dolphins. The creatures are found to have highly-specialized apparatus for maintaining smoot
[ read more ]
flexible eye lens focused by a fluid
September 13, 2015 | volume | Comments (0)
The lens in our eye has a special designed feature called accommodation. That is, the lens changes shape, curvature, or focal length to bring images into focus. When we look at a far distant object the lens becomes thinner. For nearby objects the lens thickens and becomes rounder for clear vision.
[ read more ]
Razor Clam - Anchor
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
The razor clam has a long narrow shell, somewhat resembling an old-fashioned straight razor. The shells also have a sharp edge. The clam is hunted for food in exposed mudflats along the ocean shoreline. Its defense against people and predators is an impressive ability to burrow underground rapidly
[ read more ]
DIY recycling of plastic waste
September 13, 2015 | Uncategorized | Comments (0)
The second best way to use plastic is to recycle it. Dave Hakkens presents on his webside how it works: https://youtu.be/8J7JZcsoHyA https://preciousplastic.com/en/
[ read more ]
curie point
September 13, 2015 | Uncategorized | Comments (0)
In physics and materials science, the Curie temperature (Tc), or Curie point, is the temperature where a material's permanent magnetism changes to induced magnetism. The force of magnetism is determined by magnetic moments. The Curie temperature is the critical point where a material's intrinsic
[ read more ]
Dolphin-Monofin
September 13, 2015 | speed | Comments (0)
Many sea creatures including dolphins, porpoises, and whales have a tail structure that results in impressive bursts of speed. Their tail fin, called a fluke, is waved back and forth to provide forward motion. Meanwhile, the pectoral and dorsal fins provide directional stability. Dolphins reach spee
[ read more ]
Dromedary inspires for seawater-salt removal
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
The dromedary camel is at home in the hot Sahara Desert where temperatures can exceed 170°F (77°C). Special features of the camel’s nose allow it conserve precious moisture with each breath. Technical application: seawater-salt removal, desert greening
[ read more ]
increadible ways to get energy and solve some of our biggest challenges!
September 13, 2015 | power | Comments (0)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghhgUmGBjX8&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs
[ read more ]
inspired by a tree: bypassing problems will make complex systems more fail-safe
September 13, 2015 | separating | Comments (0)
Look closely at many tree and plant leaves and you will see an intricate network of veins. Besides the channels branching outward from a central stem, you may also notice many smaller veins in random directions, connecting with each other in closed loops. This complex arrangement is unlike the simpl
[ read more ]
inspired by a tree: bypassing problems will make complex systems more fail-safe
September 13, 2015 | separating | Comments (0)
Look closely at many tree and plant leaves and you will see an intricate network of veins. Besides the channels branching outward from a central stem, you may also notice many smaller veins in random directions, connecting with each other in closed loops. This complex arrangement is unlike the simpl
[ read more ]
Cat's Claw - Safety Thumbtack
September 13, 2015 | self service | Comments (0)
Many of us remember the misfortune of stepping on a thumbtack, sitting on a tack (!), or reaching into a box of thumbtacks and getting pricked. New York design engineer Toshi Fukaya has now found a simple solution to the painful problem. Technical application: spike, tires, grip app
[ read more ]
die Brennessel
September 13, 2015 | brainwave | Comments (0)
die Brennessel_Garten der Vielfalt_pdf die Brennessel_Garten der Vielfalt_pdfMerken
[ read more ]
mimic the chameleons tongue will offer new robot arms
September 13, 2015 | rough instead of smooth | Comments (0)
Chameleons display many design features including changing skin color and stereoscopic eyesight. Another feature is their ability to capture insects with an extended tongue. Upon sighting fresh prey, the chameleon quickly extends its tongue to twice its body length. The tongue moves outward at ten m
[ read more ]
a much more efficient impellent for submarines
September 13, 2015 | speed | Comments (0)
A researcher at Caltech is developing new ways to power submarines and windmills using the lowly jellyfish. Jellyfish have a unique method of swimming through ocean water. Rather than using fins and flippers, they “pump” their body to produce ring-shaped pulses of water called vortex rings. Thes
[ read more ]
Leaves learn us how to produce electricity and harvest water
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Transpiration is the evaporation of water from the leaves of plants and trees. The undersides of leaves are dotted with hundreds of tiny openings called stoma. Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through these pores, and water escapes. A mature tree may evaporate hundreds of gallons of water on a warm,
[ read more ]
An exciting view on bionic engineering
September 13, 2015 | multifunctionality | Comments (0)
http://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_the_new_bionics_that_let_us_run_climb_and_dance
[ read more ]
Ice-free roads caused by sugar?
September 13, 2015 | pre drawing effect | Comments (0)
Sugar beets provide 30 percent of the world’s sugar. At refineries, the sugar is extracted and a liquid residue remains. In the upper Midwest, it was noticed that this residue, placed in holding ponds, did not freeze under wintry conditions. Chemical studies reveal a natural antifreeze chemical i
[ read more ]
Cellulose with 7500N/mm² is stronger than Kevlar (R)
September 13, 2015 | weight | Comments (0)
The Forest Products Laboratory of the US Forest Service has opened a US$1.7 million pilot plant for the production of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from wood by-products materials such as wood chips and sawdust. Technical application: substitute for steel or kevlar Bionic appli
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Fuel-cell powered by rust?
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
In the quest for the production of renewable and clean energy, photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) constitute a sort of a Holy Grail. Technical application: power train for cars or other vehicles Bionic application: Further description: Physical effects applied: Video: htt
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Leaves learn us how to produce electricity and harvest water
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Transpiration is the evaporation of water from the leaves of plants and trees. The undersides of leaves are dotted with hundreds of tiny openings called stoma. Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through these pores, and water escapes. A mature tree may evaporate hundreds of gallons of water on a warm,
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shoals of fish will offer their secret for windfarms
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
Wind turbines are the Colossus of the modern landscape, their blades sweeping circles more than a football field in diameter. Critics call them unsightly and say that the rotating blades clobber unsuspecting birds. John Dabiri of Caltech found a solution underwater. He built an experimental wind
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will our lungs help to reduce carbon dioxid emissions on our planet?
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Our hard-working lungs clearly show intelligent planning. Within our lungs, countless tiny air sacks called alveoli exchange gases from the bloodstream, supplying fresh oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. The component membranes which allow separation and passage of the gases are about one thousand
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shoals of fish will offer their secret for windfarms
September 13, 2015 | up/down lift | Comments (0)
Wind turbines are the Colossus of the modern landscape, their blades sweeping circles more than a football field in diameter. Critics call them unsightly and say that the rotating blades clobber unsuspecting birds. John Dabiri of Caltech found a solution underwater. He built an experimental wind
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sugar for Vaccines conservation
September 13, 2015 | transmitter | Comments (0)
Nova’s stabilisation platforms are based on a sugar-glass stabilization concept. The inspiration for this technology arose from observations of anhydrobiotic organisms, such as the Resurrection Plant (Selaginella lepidophylla), which can protect themselves from extreme desiccation. Such organisms
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Saliva a wound-healing elixier
September 13, 2015 | wet instead of dry | Comments (0)
This example of a practical design in nature may lack appeal but it is vitally important to our health. A common phrase is to “lick one’s own wounds.” This saying expresses the effort to care for one’s own needs and generally look out for oneself. However, there is a more practical applicati
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osmose-driven powerplants on every river delta offers gigantic energy
September 13, 2015 | power | Comments (0)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5VBIYNBaDk
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"Killer Whales" inspire for Undersea Hydrophone
September 13, 2015 | periodical action | Comments (0)
Sound is always produced and heard as a vibration, whether a violin string, vocal chords, or an ear drum. Sound vibrations in our hearing range vary between 20 and 20,000 cycles per second. Sound waves travel in air as vibrating air molecules, and also through water as pressure waves. Underwater mic
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Gecko feet for car tires
September 13, 2015 | surface | Comments (0)
Using design principles inspired by the nanoscopic hairs on the gecko, UC Berkeley researchers and colleagues have created a novel microfiber array which has very high friction but is not ``sticky''. Technical application: car tires, drive on solar panels Bionic
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leaf-solar collector; make your own hydrogen
September 13, 2015 | separating | Comments (0)
Solar energy is a popular topic today, and plants provide us with ideas for efficient collection of sunshine energy. During photosynthesis, sunlight converts carbon dioxide into water and sugars which nourish the plant. Worldwide, the daily rate of solar energy absorption by vegetation is six times
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A World of Solutions: The U.N. Climate Sequel
A week after the short film What’s Possible opened the U.N. Climate Summit, Lyn Lear and director Louie Schwartzberg are back with a sequel that expands on their vision for climate change solutions.
curie point
In physics and materials science, the Curie temperature (Tc), or Curie point, is the temperature where a material’s permanent magnetism changes to induced magnetism. The force of magnetism is determined by magnetic moments.
The Curie temperature is the critical point where a material’s intrinsic magnetic moments change direction.
shoals of fish will offer their secret for windfarms
Wind turbines are the Colossus of the modern landscape, their blades sweeping circles more than a football field in diameter. Critics call them unsightly and say that the rotating blades clobber unsuspecting birds.
John Dabiri of Caltech found a solution underwater. He built an experimental wind farm — the Caltech Field Laboratory for Optimized Wind Energy (FLOWE) — in which the location of turbines relative to each other takes advantage of the air flow among them.
Technical application:
Continue reading shoals of fish will offer their secret for windfarms