Biomechanics
Articles tagged with Biomechanics
Under crushing hypergravity, flies adapt — and recover
Researchers subjected fruit flies to extreme gravitational forces and found they adapted and recovered, showing resilience in movement and energy use. The study suggests the brain makes energy trade-offs based on gravity levels, with moderate increases pushing for more movement and higher energy demands.
Understanding how oxygen is delivered to tissues at the microscopic level
Researchers at Kyushu University developed a new mathematical model that simulates oxygen transport by red blood cells through tiny blood vessels and their delivery to surrounding tissues. The findings show that RBCs can naturally adjust the amount of oxygen released based on local requirements.
Why dolphins swim so fast: the secrets of eddies
A team of researchers from The University of Osaka used supercomputer simulations to study how vortices generated by dolphin kicks power fast swimming. They found that large, powerful vortices created by the movement of the dolphin's tail are responsible for most of the propulsion, while smaller ones contribute little to forward motion.
Why the Nordic hamstring exercise protects against injury
Research shows that nine weeks of Nordic hamstring exercise training increases eccentric knee flexor strength and allows participants to control the exercise through a greater range of motion. The study found that muscle fibers can stretch to longer lengths during exercise without overstretching, reducing injury risk.
Sunbirds suck their nectar, in dramatic contrast to hummingbirds, which sop it up
A new study reveals that sunbirds employ tongue suction to slurp nectar, a novel mechanism in vertebrates. This finding highlights the power of convergent evolution, where different species adapt to similar ecological challenges in distinct ways.
Seeing red: Dragonflies and humans share the same red-light detection mechanism
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University discovered that dragonfly visual protein detects red light similarly to mammals. This finding has potential applications in medical fields relying on red light-sensing, such as optogenetics.
Wristband enables wearers to control a robotic hand with their own movements
Researchers at MIT have developed an ultrasound wristband that precisely tracks hand movements, allowing users to control a robotic hand or manipulate virtual objects. The device produces high-quality images of the wrist's muscles and tendons, which are then translated into specific hand positions, enabling precise movement control.
How an alga makes the most of dim light
Researchers discovered a freshwater alga that captures far-red light for photosynthesis by rearranging ordinary chlorophyll. This unique strategy allows the alga to thrive in shaded forests and murky waters, making it resilient in tough environments. The findings have practical implications for sustainable bioenergy production and may ...
Utah engineers demonstrate lightweight ‘exoskeleton’ that helps stroke survivors walk
Utah engineers have created a wearable, portable hip exoskeleton that reduces the energy needed to walk by nearly 20% in individuals with hemiparesis after a stroke. The device helps compensate for reduced ankle propulsion and provides real-time motor assistance, improving mobility and quality of life.
Personal perception of body movement changes when using robotic prosthetics
Researchers found that participants initially overestimated the awkwardness of their gait but improved as they practiced using the prosthetic device. Despite significant performance gains, participants remained inaccurate in assessing their own body movement, focusing on torso position rather than prosthetic behavior.
World’s first AI-based optical diagnostic platform to distinguish nasal secretion from cerebrospinal fluid
A research team developed an AI-based optical diagnostic platform that can distinguish between nasal secretion and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaking within minutes. The platform achieved an exceptionally high diagnostic accuracy of 90.8% in identifying CSF leakage, overcoming the challenge of visually indistinguishable fluids.
No brain, no problem: What robots can learn from sea stars
Researchers at USC's Kanso Bioinspired Motion Lab discovered that sea stars' tube feet respond independently to changing loads, enabling local control strategy. This decentralized approach can optimize robot locomotion and adapt to environmental changes.
Two fundamental coordination patterns in underwater dolphin kick identified
Researchers identified two fundamental coordination patterns in underwater dolphin kick, accounting for over 99% of movement across performance levels. Faster swimmers exhibited greater shoulder extension and increased lower trunk movement, enabling reduced water resistance and improved propulsion.
Nucleus softens during herpesvirus infection
Researchers used advanced microscopy and computational modeling to discover why herpesvirus infection changes nuclear structures and biomechanical forces. The study found that DNA viruses infect cells and take over the host cell nucleus, leading to dramatic structural modifications and a softening of the nucleus.
Reimagining proprioception: when biology meets technology
A new theory of proprioception challenges traditional understanding by incorporating frontier bionic evidence. The proposed framework reconceptualizes proprioception as a dynamic augmentable interface, enabling functional movement and potentially improving rehabilitation outcomes in sports injuries and neurological diseases. Researcher...
Bacteria use wrapping flagella to tunnel through microscopic passages
Researchers discovered that certain bacteria wrap their rotating flagella around their cell bodies to form a screw thread, allowing them to propel forward through narrow passages. This mechanism enables bacteria to navigate complex environments and even infect host insects.
Korea University study mimics heart mechanics in organoids using three-dimensional magnetic torque
A Korea University study successfully mimics heart mechanics in organoids using three-dimensional magnetic torque, enhancing cardiac differentiation, maturation, and vascularization. This breakthrough could improve drug safety testing by providing more accurate human-relevant models for cardiotoxicity screening.
Understanding the role of linear ubiquitination in T-tubule biogenesis
A recent study using Drosophila as a model organism reveals the involvement of linear ubiquitination in T-tubule biogenesis. The findings highlight LUBEL's role in triggering Amph-mediated T-tubule formation, which promotes membrane tubulation and curvature through self-ubiquitination and positive feedback loops.
Identifying injury mechanisms influencing the severity of knee injuries in rugby
A study of 198 male rugby players found that injuries caused by indirect contact had a high incidence and burden, while tackle direction was associated with injury severity. The insights gained can guide targeted prevention programs for knee injuries in rugby.
Kangaroos fix their posture to save energy at high hopping speeds
A study published in eLife reveals how kangaroos increase their hopping speeds without incurring an associated energetic cost. By adjusting their posture, kangaroos reduce tendon stress and energy storage, allowing them to maintain the same amount of net work at the ankle, regardless of speed.
Mapping ‘dark’ regions of the genome illuminates how cells respond to their environment
Researchers used CRISPR technologies to discover previously unannotated DNA stretches in the 'dark genome', which control cell response to mechanical properties of their environment. This work could lead to new therapeutic targets for illnesses involving changes to tissue mechanics, including fibrosis and cancer.
Key mitochondrial enzyme shields the eustachian tube from inflammatory damage
Researchers discovered that SIRT3 deficiency intensifies eustachian tube dysfunction in mice, leading to thicker mucus, weakened cilia, and impaired tube opening. SIRT3 plays a protective role in maintaining mucociliary transport capacity and pressure-regulation mechanisms.
A new path for clearer hearing: Scientists redefine middle ear transfer measurement
Researchers introduce a new method to measure middle ear transfer function more accurately, eliminating inner ear impedance effects and capturing complex stapes motion. This approach provides a reliable framework for future middle ear implant research and improves the understanding of human hearing mechanisms.
Simulations reveal protein "dynamin" constricts cell membranes by loosening its grip
Researchers used computer simulations to understand how protein dynamin forms small vesicles within cells. Dynamin loosens at a certain stage to generate the force needed to narrow the surrounding membrane tube, providing insights for artificial nano-device design.
Engineering simulations rewrite the timeline of the evolution of hearing in mammals
Researchers used engineering simulations to test the anatomy of a 250-million-year-old mammal and found that it likely had an eardrum large enough to hear airborne sound effectively. The study's findings challenge previous hypotheses on how early mammals heard, providing new insights into their evolution.
UT San Antonio physicists' groundbreaking discoveries open new paths to combating diseases
Researchers at UT San Antonio have discovered the molecular mechanisms generating electrical oscillations in microtubules, a frequency similar to that observed during brain activity. This discovery could lead to therapies preventing or reversing memory loss and improving neuroplasticity.
Intelligent hydrogel microstructures enable the precise application of force to cellular systems
Scientists at Max Planck Institute develop a novel lab-on-a-chip system using intelligent hydrogel structures to simulate spatially and temporally controlled mechanical perturbations of biological polymer networks. The system applies precise pressure forces to cellular microenvironments, enabling research into biomechanical interaction...
Could a child have painted that? Jackson Pollock's famous pour-painting has child-like characteristics, study shows
Researchers found that children's paintings share similarities with Pollock's work, featuring smaller fine-scale patterns and simpler trajectories. Adults' paintings, on the other hand, had higher paint densities and more complex fractal patterns.
Breakthrough study shows how cancer cells ‘break through’ tight tissue gaps
A new study has discovered that cancer cells use different strategies to move through tight tissue gaps, with fibrosarcoma cells being more flexible and deformable. This flexibility allows them to squeeze through narrow gaps more efficiently, but does not affect the direction of their movement.
University of Oxford launches Nature’s Intelligence Studio at COP30
The University of Oxford has launched the Nature's Intelligence Studio, a programme that translates principles from biological systems into technologies supporting sustainable innovation. The studio aims to align conservation and industrial decarbonisation through bio-inspired solutions.
Woodpeckers grunt like tennis stars when drilling
Researchers discovered that woodpeckers brace their head, neck, abdomen, and tail muscles to hold their bodies rigid while pounding on wood. The birds synchronize their breathing with each impact, like ace tennis stars grunting noisily to stabilize core muscles.
Malaria parasites are full of wildly spinning iron crystals. Scientists finally know why.
Researchers find that malaria parasites use a chemical reaction powered by hydrogen peroxide decomposition to make their iron crystals spin. This motion may be crucial for the parasite's survival, helping it to eliminate excess toxic chemicals and efficiently store essential heme.
Snake bites: How they do it
Researchers studied snake strikes using high-speed cameras, revealing distinct biting styles among viper, elapid and colubrid species. Viper fangs embed quickly, while elapids bite repeatedly, with colubrids sweeping their jaws to deliver maximum venom.
A leg up on better running data
A recent study from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences uses wearable sensor technology and machine learning to estimate ground-reaction forces in runners. This data can provide insights into performance and injury, enabling the development of devices that deliver real-time feedback to users.
South American long-necked dinosaur could easily stand on two legs
Researchers used computational engineering techniques to simulate weight and gravitational stress on sauropod femurs. They found that two South American genera, Uberabatitan and Neuquensaurus, could generally remain standing for extended periods, allowing them to feed on high branches and defend against predators. The simulations sugge...
Roboticists reverse engineer zebrafish navigation
Scientists have replicated the neural circuitry that allows zebrafish to react to visual stimuli and maintain their position in flowing water. The research, published in Science Robotics, used simulations and robots to study embodiment, or how the body affects perception, in larval zebrafish.
Photosynthesis without the burn
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University discovered that marine green algae possess a unique pigment called siphonein, which helps quench triplet states and protect photosynthesis from excessive light. This finding opens the door to developing bio-inspired solar technologies with built-in protective mechanisms.
Hitting a nerve
Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a soft material with a nerve net that mimics how simple living systems coordinate motion. The material responds to chemical reactions, producing mechanical movement without electronics or motors.
Researchers ‘zoom’ in for an ultra-magnified peek at shark skin
A recent study published in Integrative and Comparative Biology found that bonnethead sharks' skin undergoes significant changes as they mature, with younger sharks having fewer ridges on their denticles. These changes likely improve swimming performance and protect the skin from predators or injuries.
Ditch ‘shrink it and pink it’ approach to women’s running shoes, manufacturers urged
A study finds that women runners prioritize comfort, injury prevention, and performance when choosing running shoes, highlighting a need for sex- and gender-specific designs that accommodate female foot morphology across the lifespan. The researchers recommend moving beyond scaling down men's shoes to fit women's feet.
Running with a stroller lowers impact, potential injury risk, researchers find
A new study published in PLOS One found that running with a stroller reduces vertical loading metrics by up to 17%, potentially decreasing injury risk. However, torsional loading metrics increased significantly, posing a potential trade-off.
Body movement-sensing fly neurons are turned off during active motion
Researchers discovered that proprioceptive nerve cells for sensing leg motion are deactivated during active movement in fruit flies. This selective suppression may enable the insect to quickly respond to sudden external events. The study advances basic scientific knowledge of sensory feedback and its application to clinical treatments
Magnetic fields improve Monascus pigments and inhibit citrinin yield via interfering with the iron metabolism
Researchers found that magnetic fields can regulate iron metabolism to improve Monascus pigment synthesis and reduce citrinin production. This approach may enhance the safety of fermented food products.
FAU/Baptist Health AI spine model could transform lower back pain treatment
Researchers developed a fully automated finite element analysis pipeline to transform spine diagnostics and personalized treatment planning. The new approach enables rapid, patient-specific simulations that support preoperative planning, spinal implant optimization, and early detection of degenerative spine conditions.
Early bears were omnivores: Three-dimensional jaw analyses reveal diet
A new study by Anneke van Heteren found that early bears like the Auvergne bear were likely typical omnivores, not insect-eaters as previously thought. The research used 3D jaw analyses and geometric morphometrics to compare jaw biomechanics with different diets.
Cells usually viewed as menders may harm the heart
Researchers found that shutting down a signaling pathway in fibroblasts restored heart functioning in lab models. The study suggests that targeting fibroblasts may be essential to treat dilated cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of heart failure.
New research reveals wild octopus arms in action
A new study by Florida Atlantic University reveals that every arm is capable of performing all action types, with front arms mainly used for exploration and back arms supporting movement. Octopuses demonstrated remarkable flexibility, showcasing complex motor control.
Revolutionizing impedance flow cytometry with adjustable microchannel height
A research team from Nara Institute of Science and Technology developed a dynamic microfluidic channel that adjusts to particle size, increasing impedance flow cytometry's sensitivity and accuracy. The platform also leverages clogging as a strategy to optimize performance.
Robots offer clues to the impressive robustness of eel locomotion
A team of researchers has developed a mathematical model that integrates sensory feedback to enable eel-like robots to swim and crawl on land. The study shows how multisensory feedback enables eels to adapt their movement patterns after spinal cord injury, providing insights into the evolutionary transition of vertebrates from water to...
Eel-Inspired Robots? Study reveals how amphibious animals navigate tough terrain
Researchers developed an innovative model explaining how elongated amphibious animals, like eels, coordinate movement in water and on land. The study reveals sensory feedback as the key to maintaining locomotor performance.
Researchers’ octopus-like design improves underwater vehicle maneuverability
University of Iowa researchers have created an underwater hydrofoil with a coiled spire design that reduces drag and creates more lift, enabling it to move with ease in any underwater environment. The technology mimics the skin, muscles, and tissue of an octopus, allowing for increased portability and maneuverability.
Intestinal surface cells pull rather than push
Cells on the intestinal surface are replaced every few days due to pulling forces that determine which cells are weakest and need to leave. Weakened cells are removed from the intestine due to disrupted tug-of-war behavior, leading to inflammation and disease.
Soft materials hold onto “memories” of their past, for longer than previously thought
Researchers have discovered that soft gels and lotions retain residual stress from the mixing process, affecting their behavior over time. The study reveals that common products like hair gel and shaving cream hold onto these stresses for longer periods than previously assumed.
When fluid tips the balance: New clues to middle-ear hearing damage
Researchers developed a validated finite element model to simulate middle-ear mechanics, revealing a clear cutoff point for fluid buildup beyond which hearing quality rapidly deteriorates. This insight offers clinicians a new way to assess and stage middle-ear fluid buildup.
Self-morphing, wing-like feet enhance surface maneuverability of water striders and robots
A team of researchers has developed a robot with self-morphing, wing-like feet that mimic the agile movements of water striders. The insect-scale robot enhances surface maneuverability and can execute sharp turns in just 50 milliseconds, rivaling the rapid aerial maneuvers of flying flies.
UCLA study reveals complex muscle control behind blinking and eyelid function
A UCLA team has uncovered new details about the muscle controlling blinking, offering a pathway toward developing blink-assisting prostheses. The orbicularis oculi muscle contracts in complex patterns that vary by action and move the eyelid in more than just a simple up-and-down motion.
Dancing against the current: Microbial survival strategy
In scalding hot water, bacteria use a unique 'reverse-flow dance' to move upstream, sensing water flow direction. This behavior is common among heat-loving bacterial species with elongated shapes.
Gigantic, meat-eating dinosaurs didn’t all have strong bites
A new analysis of 18 species of carnivorous dinosaurs reveals that not all giant predators had strong bites, but instead specialized in different feeding styles. This study demonstrates the diversity of feeding strategies among giant carnivores, challenging the assumption that one 'best' skull design existed for being a predatory giant.
Physicists decode mysterious membrane behavior
Researchers identify packing density as key factor affecting membrane elasticity, offering new insights into homeostasis and cellular behavior. This discovery has significant implications for drug delivery applications and the development of lifelike artificial cells.