Articles tagged with Biomimetics
Scientists developed a synthetic melanin that accelerates wound healing and protects against sun damage. The cream also quiets the immune system, allowing for continuous repair and reducing inflammation.
Researchers at Osaka University developed a water-repelling nanostructured light diffuser that surpasses the functionality of other common diffusers. The diffuser uses randomly arranged self-cleaning nanopatterns to produce high transmittance and wide angular spread, making it useful for visual displays and energy-saving windows.
Researchers studied how insects evolved two distinct flight strategies using robots and biophysicists. They found that asynchronous flight evolved together in a common ancestor, but some groups reverted back to synchronous flight.
Duke researchers demonstrate that incorporating rhythm into movement designs can optimize performance and efficiency for robots and animals. By varying the timing of movements, optimal rhythms can be achieved, affecting all aspects of design.
A new biomimetic chip has been developed to simulate the human gastric mucosa, combining organoid and organ-on-a-chip technologies. The biochip replicates mechanical stimulation and cell-to-cell interactions, mimicking key features of the human stomach's defense mechanisms.
Researchers found a 27% decrease in mean friction and a 9% reduction in energy demand through pulsating pumping similar to the human heart. This approach could lead to less costly modifications than pipe wall changes or actuators, benefiting industrial applications.
The study, published in Advanced Functional Materials, reveals a novel light-activated material that can be used to effectively reshape and thicken damaged corneal tissue, promoting healing and recovery for patients with keratoconus. The technology has tremendous potential to impact millions of people suffering from corneal diseases.
Researchers developed bio-piezoelectric smart scaffolds for next-generation bone tissue engineering, demonstrating potential for clinical applications. The scaffolds can reconstruct desired tissue EM through non-invasive ultrasonic stimulation, promoting cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation.
Researchers at CiQUS developed biomimetic nanocarriers that fuse with host cell membranes to release drugs into cytosol. This approach enhances therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability by increasing selectivity and safety.
Researchers have developed bat-inspired drones to eliminate moth pests from greenhouses using sound-based technology. The drones' noise affects moth flight behavior, causing some to fly erratically and others to cease flying altogether.
Researchers discovered that a bivalve's hinge can withstand 1,500,000 cycles without fatigue damage. The team proposed a novel design strategy based on the hinge's hierarchical structure to create fatigue-resistant materials.
A team of researchers from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a hydrodynamic model to study penguin wings' propulsion physics. The model reveals that wing feathering is the main factor in generating thrust, allowing penguins to swim efficiently and maneuver swiftly.
Researchers have developed a new manufacturing pipeline to simplify and advance high-value manufacturing of tissue-compatible organs, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. This breakthrough aims to address the dire need for artificially engineered organs and tissue grafts, potentially saving thousands of lives in the UK.
Researchers from Osaka University developed a biomimetic robot that uses dynamic instability to navigate uneven terrain. The robot can switch between straight and curved walking motions, making it suitable for search and rescue operations or planetary exploration.
Researchers develop bio-inspired microphones that detect specific signals without consuming a lot of energy or requiring supervision. These miniature sensors are ideal for hazardous or hard-to-reach applications.
Researchers at Arizona State University have designed a drone with an inflatable frame that can absorb impact forces and provide collision resilience. The drone's stiffness is tunable, allowing it to physically interact with its surroundings and accomplish tasks like perching, which involves controlled collisions.
Researchers at IIT developed a biodegradable seed-robot that can change shape in response to humidity, inspired by the seed structure of a South African geranium. The robot, part of the European project I-Seed, has potential applications in environmental monitoring and reforestation.
Researchers used a biomimetic model to study wound healing in burn and laceration wounds. Fibroblasts were found to clear away damaged tissue before depositing new material, but this process was slower in burn wounds due to more tissue damage. Therapies that promote wound clearance could accelerate healing.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have created a soft material with metal-like conductivity and self-healing properties that can support digital electronics and motors. The material has been demonstrated in various applications, including powering motors and enabling reconfigurable circuits.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a latch control system that enables grasshopping robots to perform efficiently on soft substrates. The team discovered that the latch can not only regulate energy output but also mediate energy transfer between the robot and its environment, leading to improved jump performance.
Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia have created a soft robot inspired by earthworms, able to crawl using soft actuators that elongate or squeeze. The prototype demonstrates improved locomotion with a speed of 1.35mm/s and has potential applications in underground exploration, excavation, search and rescue operations.
The researchers designed the robot to mimic the movement of flippers in water and centipedes on land, resulting in impressive speeds of 1.5 body lengths per second on land and 0.74 body lengths per second in water. The amphibious robot has potential applications in search and rescue, marine agriculture, and fish feeding.
Researchers at MIT create a novel approach to building deformable underwater robots using simple repeating substructures. The system can assemble into various shapes and sizes, offering scalability and efficiency improvements over current technologies.
A team of researchers has developed an artificial tissue that repairs injuries and restores normal erectile function in a pig model. The artificial tunica albuginea (ATA) shows promise for repairing penile injuries in humans by mimicking the microstructure of natural tissues.
A team of simple robots, nicknamed RAnts, use photormones to escape a corral and perform complex tasks. The research reveals how collective cooperation can arise from simple rules, applicable to solving problems like construction, search and rescue, and defense.
Great gray owls have a broad disc-like face that acts as radar to find food, while their facial features help correct for sonic distortions caused by snow. The owls' ability to hover above prey allows them to pinpoint location and avoid acoustic mirages created by the snow.
Researchers at NC State University have created an energy-efficient soft robot that can swim more than four times faster than previous models. The 'butterfly bots' use bistable wings for propulsion and achieve speeds of up to 3.74 body lengths per second.
Researchers found that fruit flies compensate for catastrophic wing injuries by flapping the damaged wing harder and reducing the speed of the healthy one. This allows them to maintain stability while exchanging some performance, actively increasing damping to counteract decreased friction between the wing and air.
A new study has found that springtails' jumping, soaring, and landing patterns are precise and controlled, with some species able to land on their feet. The research, led by Victor Ortega Jiménez, aims to teach robots how to replicate this ability.
A new technique improves tumour targeting efficiency by fixing partial cell membrane coating on nanoparticles. The method increases immune escape and specific cancer targeting capability, enhancing therapeutic outcomes and reducing adverse effects.
Researchers at Purdue University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have developed a metamaterial that can learn to adapt to its surroundings on its own. The material uses shape to store information in microseconds, allowing drones to quickly recall patterns associated with dangerous conditions.
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh create microcapsules that exhibit life-like autonomy through self-generated motion and chemical signals. The system mimics protocell behavior, showcasing the potential for simple mechanisms to produce complex biological functions.
Researchers developed a bionic swimming robot using cultured skeletal muscle tissue and circular distributed multiple electrodes, achieving stable controllability. The robot can be efficiently propelled by only one muscle tissue, making it suitable for various applications.
A new evaluation method at Osaka University accurately compares android and human facial expressions. The study found that androids have significantly less expressiveness than humans, but the new index may aid in developing more lifelike robots.
Scientists at Beijing Institute of Technology successfully controlled honeybee steering behavior using unilateral optic lobe electrical stimulation, with an average successful rate of 87% in immobilized status. The study also explored the influence of pulse electrical signal parameters on steering response behaviors.
A new study uses a biomimetic in-silico simulator to investigate the effect of body posture and stomach motility on oral drug bioavailability. The simulation reveals that stomach contractions can induce pressure, generating complex pill trajectories and affecting drug dissolution rates.
Researchers have developed a biomimetic formulation to treat glioblastoma by harnessing lactate metabolism. The formulation, called M@HLPC, uses nanoparticles to deliver a combination of drugs that inhibit cancer cell growth and kill glioma cells.
A new study takes inspiration from the 'waggle dance' of honeybees to devise a way for robots to communicate effectively in situations with unreliable network communications. Researchers designed a visual communication system using on-board cameras, allowing robots to interpret gestures and convey complex information.
Researchers at NIST found that gecko setae are coated in an ultra-thin layer of lipids, which repel water and help maintain grip on wet surfaces. This discovery could lead to the development of biomimetic products, such as gecko boots or gloves for improved traction.
Researchers investigated the cell adhesion behavior on spider silk fibers, films, and nanofibers. The study found that native spider silk exhibits superior properties for medical use, preventing blood clots and enduring repetitive loading and unloading.
Researchers create a new method for detecting diagnostic markers of epilepsy using EEG and MEG, enabling precise localisation of epileptogenic cortical structures. The biomimetic algorithm improves the effectiveness of neurosurgical interventions for epilepsy patients with resistant treatment.
Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a single-material, single-stimuli microstructure that can outmaneuver even living cilia. These programmable structures could be used for soft robotics, biocompatible medical devices, and dynamic information encryption.
A UK team is developing personalized ‘theranostic’ dressings that speed up wound healing while providing diagnostic information. The dressings feature biomimetic macromolecules that replicate natural tissue structures, kickstarting the body’s healing processes.
A new form of drug delivery microparticle mimics the properties of a red blood cell, enabling controlled release of drugs and targeting specific destinations. The goal is to bypass the body's filtration systems, allowing for improved efficacy and reduced negative side effects.
Scientists have devised a method to pinpoint active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine formulations, revealing 4 analytes with significant anti-inflammatory activity. This breakthrough could improve quality control standards and lead to better herbal remedies.
Researchers developed a fully autonomous biohybrid fish from human stem-cell derived cardiac muscle cells that recreates the muscle contractions of a pumping heart. The device has two layers of muscle cells that work together to propel the fish for over 100 days.
Researchers at Stanford University have created a robotic hand with a gecko-inspired grip that can handle both delicate and heavy objects. The 'farmHand' gripper uses gecko-adhesive pads and has a unique finger design to enable both dexterity and strength.
A new floating robotic film can hoover oil spills at sea or remove contaminants from drinking water, using a pulsing motion inspired by water striders. The film is powered by light and fueled by water, making it sustainable and reusable.
A team of researchers led by Guy Genin and Stavros Thomopoulos found a previously unknown fibrous architecture in the shoulder joint, revealing new features of the attachment system. The discovery sheds light on how the rotator cuff functions and why repairs fail frequently.
Researchers created a paper-like material that folds itself into new shapes in response to environmental humidity, with potential applications in self-folding envelopes and boxes. The material's ability to morph on demand could lead to the development of autonomous origami robots and other complex shapes.
Researchers at Beijing Institute of Technology created a robot that can track fast-moving rats for extended periods using real-time localization and movement analysis. The robotic rat's built-in stereo vision system enables it to characterize typical behaviors of actual rats, promoting autonomy and reproducibility in behavior research.
Researchers developed a fluorescence quenching assay to probe the integrity of cell membrane coating on biomimetic nanoparticles. The study found that only 20% of particles were fully coated, indicating significant limitations in current coating protocols.
Researchers at Seoul National University developed a wearable artificial chameleon skin that can detect and adapt to its surroundings in real-time. The device, which combines thermochromic liquid crystal ink with vertically-stacked silver nanowires, enables high-resolution camouflage and blending into complex backgrounds.
Researchers have developed PSII-based biomimetic assemblies to improve photosynthetic activity, leveraging synthetic luminescent materials to boost ATP synthesis. The system combines PSII with artificial structures to optimize light absorption and overcome stability limitations.
Researchers at TU Freiberg create new composite material from marine bath sponges that can be used as a bi-based filter for wastewater treatment or pollutant removal, and can be reused multiple times without losing its properties.
Researchers used 4D printing to create a biomimetic microchannel scaffold made of collagen and hydroxyapatite, inducing blood vessel growth in a mouse model. The scaffold's unique structure allows for enhanced water absorption and cell infiltration.
Researchers at Hunan University and Clemson University have developed a new type of electrode material inspired by biological cells. The material, called biomimetic carbon cells, improves the cycling stability of potassium-ion batteries and allows for longer continuous operation.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed a biomimetic tongue surface using 3D printing, replicating the complex texture and mechanical properties of a human tongue. The new technology enables testing of oral processing properties of food, nutritional technologies, and pharmaceuticals without relying on human trials.
Hannes, a biomimetic hand prosthetic, has been developed to replicate human hand movement and grasp properties. It has shown improved performance compared to existing devices, enabling patients to perform daily activities with ease.
A new study reveals how remora suckerfish detach themselves from surfaces and explores the application of this mechanism in underwater robots. The research team developed a biomimetic flexible adhesive disc with controllable motion, which showed similar detachment motions to its biological counterpart.