biomimicry
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A Wind Turbine With Flapping Wings Might Be Quieter And Safer For Birds
Unless they have got stake in a big oil company, the most common reasons people have for opposing the installation of wind turbines is the noise pollution and the risk they pose to birds. But a radically redesigned turbine with flapping wings instead of spinning blades might finally solve both of those problems.
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Spider Silk Inspires Creation Of ‘Liquid Wire’
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown property of spider silk, and used it to create a remarkable new “hybrid” material. The new bio-inspired thread, which acts like both a solid and a liquid, could lead to a host of new materials and technologies.
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Flying Rescue Drones Will Claw Like Eagles And Swarm Like Bees
Nature-inspired engineering isn’t new — but engineers are still finding new ways to take cues from Mother Nature. We got the beastly lowdown at day 3 of the RoboUniverse conference in New York this morning.
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Hydroceramic Walls Could Cool Buildings By Sweating Like Human Skin
Our reliance on air conditioning, however magical an innovation, has become a serious environmental burden. Which is why researchers in Barcelona designed a material they say can naturally cool rooms by about 5C, using a moisture-absorbing polymer that “sweats” much like our own body.