The secret of the 'superhero' spider leads advances in field of biomimetics

Hachiko · Apr 27, 2004, 01:03

Biomimetics, the study of the engineering and design solutions that evolve from natural selection. While human ingenuity is remarkable, and the discoveries and inventions we have made are often breathtaking, we usually achieve only poor imitations of solutions found in nature. This is not surprising, since natural selection has had millions of years longer than we've had to work on honing ways to live.

But more and more, scientists are replicating in the lab what evolution has optimized in nature. There is, for example (those Chinese silkworm farmers would be pleased to know), a genetically engineered goat and its milk contains the protein for spider's silk. On Tuesday, scientists from Penn State University presented their plans for "morphing airplane wings" -- wings that change shape according to the speed and duration of flight.

Japan Times

**Glenn** · May 19, 2004, 09:54

Looks like interesting stuff. I had heard of the morphing wings before, but I can't remember where (Discovery Wings, maybe?). The spider thing looks really cool. Imagine walking on a ceiling!

TZed9 · Jun 4, 2004, 21:09

Originally Posted by Glenn

Looks like interesting stuff. I had heard of the morphing wings before, but I can't remember where (Discovery Wings, maybe?). The spider thing looks really cool. Imagine walking on a ceiling!

Am I going to eat that ?

heh hehe

http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/aircars.asp

The morphing tech is just getting off the ideas stage. It is CLEARLY the way forward. Having some small pilot experience myself, I can appreciate very much the sort of benefit this will have.

Let's go flying!

**lexico** · Feb 3, 2005, 21:31

Fascinating field of study which will fundamentally change the way we do things.
First the easier stuff like nuclearly engineered chemicals and pharmaceuticals,
Then the actual curing of diseases, which is slightly more complicated,
Biomimetic stomachs for concentrating pure nutrients will help feed the world,
Biomimetic engines will end our dependence on crude oil and lower CO2 level,
Biomimetic pneumatics and piping will greatly enhance our heating/cooling efficiency...

I can't think of anything else now, but let's keep adding to the list like a growing plant!

Apr 27, 2004, 01:03	#1
Hachiko The Akita Join Date: Jan 17, 2004 Location: Long Beach, CA Age: 25 Posts: 1,377	The secret of the 'superhero' spider leads advances in field of biomimetics Biomimetics, the study of the engineering and design solutions that evolve from natural selection. While human ingenuity is remarkable, and the discoveries and inventions we have made are often breathtaking, we usually achieve only poor imitations of solutions found in nature. This is not surprising, since natural selection has had millions of years longer than we've had to work on honing ways to live. But more and more, scientists are replicating in the lab what evolution has optimized in nature. There is, for example (those Chinese silkworm farmers would be pleased to know), a genetically engineered goat and its milk contains the protein for spider's silk. On Tuesday, scientists from Penn State University presented their plans for "morphing airplane wings" -- wings that change shape according to the speed and duration of flight. Japan Times __________________

May 19, 2004, 09:54	#2
Glenn 考え中 Join Date: Jan 8, 2004 Posts: 5,544	Looks like interesting stuff. I had heard of the morphing wings before, but I can't remember where (Discovery Wings, maybe?). The spider thing looks really cool. Imagine walking on a ceiling! __________________ Avoid Mojibake! -- 文字化けを避ける！ Dictionary at Goo - English-Japanese, Japanese-English, Japanese Language Teach Yourself Japanese and Teach Yourself Japanese Message Board Jim Breen's online dictionary and kanji lookup

Jun 4, 2004, 21:09	#3
TZed9 Fence walker Join Date: Dec 31, 2003 Location: Canterbury UK Posts: 57	Originally Posted by Glenn Looks like interesting stuff. I had heard of the morphing wings before, but I can't remember where (Discovery Wings, maybe?). The spider thing looks really cool. Imagine walking on a ceiling! Am I going to eat that ? heh hehe http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/aircars.asp The morphing tech is just getting off the ideas stage. It is CLEARLY the way forward. Having some small pilot experience myself, I can appreciate very much the sort of benefit this will have. Let's go flying! __________________ Hostile rebuke

Feb 3, 2005, 21:31	#4
lexico Chukchi Salmon Join Date: Dec 22, 2004 Location: Sunny South Korea Posts: 2,223	Fascinating field of study which will fundamentally change the way we do things. First the easier stuff like nuclearly engineered chemicals and pharmaceuticals, Then the actual curing of diseases, which is slightly more complicated, Biomimetic stomachs for concentrating pure nutrients will help feed the world, Biomimetic engines will end our dependence on crude oil and lower CO2 level, Biomimetic pneumatics and piping will greatly enhance our heating/cooling efficiency... I can't think of anything else now, but let's keep adding to the list like a growing plant! __________________ Z: The fish in the water are happy. H: How do you know ? You're not fish. Z: How do you know I don't ? You're not me. H: True I am not you, and I cannot know. Likewise, I know you're not, therefore I know you don't. Z: You asked me how I knew implying you knew I knew. In fact I saw some fish, strolling down by the Hao River, all jolly and gay. --Zhuangzi

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