Innovations & Tech Biomimetics

[Crimson Azure]

I have always found this field of the science/engineering intriguing. Mankind using what is found in nature to solve problems that seem impossible at present.

It's a very old area of study which continues to have application as we continue to progress.

For a basic rundown Wikipedia has an overview of the field.

Velcro, plane wings both old and new plus many others.

Anyway, any particular research that has piqued your interest?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Have you read the book Zoobiquity?

It's very cool.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Better known amongst fisherman around the world as the "thumb-splitter", these little guys are amazing in many different ways and are now being researched for uses in weaponry.

For starters, the Mantis Shrimp is equipped with extraordinary power. When it releases it's 'clubs' it does so at a speed that is comparable to the firing of a .22 calibre rifle(it is said that if a human could harness this same power man could throw a baseball into orbit).

Not only does the power of this strike pack a punch, but the force creates an underwater light show called sonoluminescence, as a consequence of cavitation bubbles formed under water.
Yes, these animals can literally create light with the force of their strike.

Now that's cool, but then you need to understand that while we have 3 types of cones(blue, red, green) in our eyes that allow us to see the light spectrum, the Mantis Shrimp has 16, and has 6 'pupils'. Phenomenal.
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/03/natures-most-amazing-eyes-just-got-a-bit-weirder/


Back to their 'clubs'.
The club of the peacock mantis shrimp strikes with such speed and force while staying intact that scientists are trying to mimic its makeup to protect troops in the line of fire.

For more reading on Biomimetics.
http://www.tested.com/science/496090-biomimetics-studying-striking-power-mantis-shrimp/




As a Marine aquarist I have kept these little guys, unbeknownst to myself until it became apparent that a large number of other critters including crabs, fish and starfish in the tank were disappearing shortly after a few loud "clicks" were heard from the reef.


There's just literally so much we can learn from these little guys.

 

[Long Live HFC]

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

As if on cue.

http://www.sciencealert.com/mantis-shrimp-can-see-cancer-before-symptoms-appear

Mantis shrimp are pretty much the superheroes of the crustacean world. Not only can they deliver a crazy powerful punchwith their front claws, but their incredible eyes can actually see cancer, even before symptoms appear.

Now researchers are trying to build cameras that can replicate that incredible ability, so we can not only detect cancers earlier, but also operate on tumours and locate them throughout the body more accurately.

 

[GreyCrow]

As if on cue.

http://www.sciencealert.com/mantis-shrimp-can-see-cancer-before-symptoms-appear

Mantis shrimp are pretty much the superheroes of the crustacean world. Not only can they deliver a crazy powerful punchwith their front claws, but their incredible eyes can actually see cancer, even before symptoms appear.

Now researchers are trying to build cameras that can replicate that incredible ability, so we can not only detect cancers earlier, but also operate on tumours and locate them throughout the body more accurately.

Should be called the Chuck Norris Shrimp. Not only can it detect cancer before it happens, it can punch cancer into next year.

 

[GreyCrow]

Interested to hear if anyone has more examples