What happens when you put snakes on a plane? No, not with Samuel L. Jackson – on a steep inclined plane. Generally, the animals will begin to slide down. But they can halt their fall by actively changing the positioning of their scales to increase friction. Knowing this has allowed robotic engineers to build better…
The sensory organs of insects are even weirder than you thought
Flies and beetles sense the world using organs that humans only dream of. In this gorgeous microscopy video, University of Cambridge materials scientist Chris Forman explains what the foot of a fruitfly and the antenna of a beetle have in common with your nose and hands.
This insect eye will one day be built into your smart phone
University of Cambridge materials scientist Chris Forman shows us the eyes of a beetle and a fruit fly in a way you've never seen them before. That's not just because they're electrograph images, which reveal the eyes in amazing detail. Forman also offers a quick introduction to biomimesis, or using biology to…
Disembodied Japanese robot arms applaud your growing fear
These Ondz clapping robots were built by Masato Takahashi of Keio University, who modeled them on his own arms and designed them to sound like authentic human applause. These aluminum and urethane "multipurpose hand-clapping machines" were showcased at the 2011 Tokyo Digital Content Expo.
The eyelid seatbelt, and what it means for you
Do 'eyelid seatbelts' intrigue you? Of course they do. Find out why this strange anatomical feature allows woodpeckers to smack a tree with their faces thousands of times a day without breaking themselves to pieces.
Cameras that could replace your eyeballs
Scientists have developed a camera that's as flexible as an eyeball with all the zooming power of a conventional camera. And it's only the size of a nickel.
How to build a brain with neural networks
When training a future robot overlord, you want it to learn to make complex decisions. No one likes an android whose only call is ‘shoot it.' Neural networks allow problem solving, prioritizing, and hopefully mercy.
Five biomimetic ideas to make the world a cooler-looking place
Eco-friendly structures don't have to look like ugly gray boxes. In fact, saving the enviromment can inspire some of the best design out there. Here are five ways biomimetics takes the elegance of nature, and makes it work for us.
Engineers have been faking life since 1000 BC
Modern biomimesis makes solar cells grow like plants, molecules walk like people, and art run like centipedes. But it's a very old science. Take a look at ancient engineers who made lifelike machines fight, sing, flirt, and yes, poop.
