Articles tagged with Biomechanics
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers from the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences studied the biological effects of permanent magnetic fields and found that their distribution in space plays a critical role in healing. The study's detailed field maps offer practical guidance for optimizing magnet use in medicine and magnetobiology.
Researchers analyzed 180-degree directional changes in soccer ball-trapping to identify key factors influencing performance. Advanced players executed trapping actions with greater accuracy, absorbing momentum more effectively and rotating their bodies towards intended movement directions.
Researchers have engineered a novel enzyme, PET2-21M, to enhance the biodegradation of bottle-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics. This breakthrough offers a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional recycling processes, achieving significant improvements in catalytic activity and substrate efficiency.
Bioengineers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a computational model called BrainFlow that simulates cerebrospinal fluid flow in the presence of shunt implants, providing insight into optimal shunt design and placement for hydrocephalus patients.
A new study reveals that fish hovering in place consumes roughly twice the energy of resting, challenging the scientific community's long-held assumption. By analyzing fin movements and body shape, researchers found species with greater separation between their centers of mass and buoyancy use more energy when hovering.
Researchers at OIST introduce a mouse motion capture method using marker-based approach to track high-quality data on complex movements. The method avoids pitfalls associated with smaller animals, enabling detailed studies of neuroscientific and physiological foundations of mouse movement.
Northern Arizona University researchers have developed an open-source robotic exoskeleton framework, OpenExo, which provides comprehensive instructions for building single- or multi-joint exoskeletons. The system helps overcome challenges in developing biomechanically beneficial and technologically advanced exoskeletons.
Researchers found that intercellular flow plays a major role in tissue response to deformation, affecting organs' adaptability to conditions like aging and cancer. The study's findings could inform the design of artificial tissues and organs.
A study by the CSIC-UMH Institute of Neurosciences uncovers how flies' flight stabilizers, the halteres, take shape. The structure is stabilized by a sophisticated cellular system that connects its two surfaces through an internal framework.
Researchers analyzed video clips of bumblebee visits to lousewort flowers, revealing a unique
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a method to create artificial blood vessels using ultrashort laser pulses, enabling the creation of mini organ models with precise control and reproducibility. The technology has been successfully applied to liver tissue models, resulting in improved metabolic activity and adequate nutrient supply.
A team of scientists at Stanford University has created an early testing method to identify individuals at risk of taking a life-threatening fall. By analyzing walking patterns and balance issues over time, the researchers can provide clinicians with valuable insights to intervene before falls occur.
Research highlights the challenges of assessing inter-limb asymmetries, emphasizing the importance of task specificity, data quality, temporal trends, and context. A decision-making framework guides practitioners in interpreting asymmetries effectively.
A team of scientists has studied the evolutionary history of the bacterial circadian clock, tracing its origins back to ancient cyanobacteria that emerged 3 billion years ago. They discovered that the oldest KaiC proteins lacked the necessary function for rhythmic qualities, but acquired it over time through molecular evolution.
Researchers have discovered that flamingos employ a range of active feeding strategies, including stomping, head jerking and beak chattering, to concentrate brine shrimp and small animals into their mouths. These behaviors create whirlpools and eddies that funnel prey towards the birds' mouths.
Scientists have discovered a Triassic-era fossil with an elongated jaw structure, similar to modern-day pike and needlefish. The findings suggest that different species independently evolved similar jaws hundreds of millions of years apart, highlighting the universal problem-solving strategies in nature.
A new method for DNA detection uses heterogeneous probe particles and laser light to accelerate genetic analysis. This PCR-free technique offers greater sensitivity and speed than traditional methods, making it more accessible for medical, environmental, and personal health applications.
A recent study has revealed the interaction mechanism between mitochondrial proteins HAX1 and CLPB, filling a research gap in structural dynamics and functional association. The high-affinity binding properties between the two proteins have been determined using nuclear magnetic resonance technology, providing new research perspectives...
A team of researchers from Osaka University has demonstrated that human tissue can be used to solve complex equations and process information, outperforming traditional computing methods. This breakthrough uses the concept of reservoir computing, where data is input into a complex 'reservoir' that encodes rich patterns.
African Elephants have an extraordinary ability to plan their journeys based on energy costs and resource availability, according to a new study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology. The research team used GPS tracking data from 157 elephants over a 22-year period to analyze their movement decisions and habitat selection.
Researchers at MIT successfully triggered a key enzyme in starfish egg cells using different patterns of light, prompting predictable movements and contractions. The study provides a new optical tool for controlling cell shape in its earliest developmental stages.
Researchers designed a hopping robot based on studies of leaping squirrels, which can stick a landing on narrow perches. The robot uses strategies similar to those employed by squirrels when landing, including directing force through the shoulder joint and grasping the branch with its feet.
Scientists have uncovered the molecular structure of Mycoplasma mobile's twin motors that power its gliding ability, using cryo-electron microscopy. The complex structure reveals a new mechanism by which energy from ATP hydrolysis is converted into motility.
A new study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers suggests that Kenyan Olympian Faith Kipyegon could break the 4-minute-mile barrier with strategically timed pacers. The team's calculations indicate that drafting can reduce air resistance by up to 76%, allowing female runners to improve their times by as much as five seconds.
A team of researchers developed a smart insole system that accurately measures body interaction with the ground, estimating ground reaction forces. The TG0 Smart Insole outperformed traditional methods with an error rate as low as 4.16%, offering a reliable and affordable solution for monitoring movement in real-world scenarios.
A team of researchers found that mammalian tails can form complex curves and enable body rotations in mid-air, challenging the conventional design of robotic tails. The study suggests that tail structure optimized for inertial maneuvering could be applied to robots, improving their performance and efficiency.
The study analyzed swimmer movement using optical motion capture and found that the direction of jet flow between vortices around the foot shifted downward as swimming speed increased. This shift is hypothesized to enhance forward propulsion during up-kicking, suggesting a refined technique for underwater undulatory swimming.
Hannah Dailey, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Lehigh University, has been recognized with the Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE) for her innovative research on fracture healing. Her virtual mechanical test can identify nonunions early in the healing process, allowing for earlier surgical intervention.
A new research project funded by a $600,000 grant is exploring the mechanics behind episiotomies, with the goal of developing safer and more effective surgical practices. The study uses advanced experimental techniques and computational simulations to understand how incisions spread and potentially lead to tears.
Researchers use knowledge of molecular motors to enhance DNA-nanoparticle motors, reducing speed disparities. The engineered motor achieves speeds of 30 nm/s with improved processivity and run-length, comparable to natural motor proteins.
A systematic literature search identified high-priority clinical actions for post-acute care, including early education, risk assessment, and mental health screening. Implementing these actions can improve the quality of care for non-hospitalized TBI patients.
Silvia Blemker, a University of Virginia biomedical engineer, has been elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) for her work on muscle health. Her patented technology, Image-based Identification of Muscle Abnormalities, uses advanced imaging and analytics to provide detailed insights into muscle health.
Researchers found that slingshot spiders can listen for approaching insects before releasing their web to catapult forward and capture prey. The spiders use sound-sensitive hairs on their legs to detect the vibrations from the insects' wings, allowing them to deploy their webs in mid-air.
Research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research reveals that individuals with ACL reconstruction exhibit persistent aberrant gait biomechanics, which can lead to joint loads contributing to long-term knee problems. Early rehabilitative measures may help maintain long-term knee joint health.
The MIT team fabricated a simple water filter modeled after the mobula ray's plankton-filtering features and studied its performance. They found that the ray's filtering features are broadly similar to industrial cross-flow filters, which could inform design of water treatment systems.