Nature, best inspirational

Firefly robots and heat-insulated squid skin for added practicality!

Among the scientific works inspired by Mother Nature and her animals that emerged in 2022, we note:

the Firefly robots Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: These are small robots with wings and points of motors (artificial muscles). Like fireflies, they light up in full flight thanks to glowing particles. Equipping themselves with sensors, they will be able to sneak into places inaccessible to large robots in the context of collapsed buildings.

Heat insulated packaging image of the skin squid : Basically, this cephalopod consists of tiny chromatophore organs that are capable of changing size and color. Alon Gorodetsky, of the University of California, Irvine, was particularly inspired by this natural mechanism to develop miniature metal assemblies that could fold and shrink more easily. Just like the firefly robots, the wrapper or food warmer obtained from these bundles has the ability to regulate the level of heat.

While firefly bots serve on rescue missions, ants may help detect cancers in humans – Photography lirtlon / Getty Images

Smelling ants and cow mucus: a significant health benefit

If robotic fireflies mainly have a practical use, there are animals whose health scientists are really interested in:

Cow and its Mucus to Fight STDs: A study published in September 2022 highlights the health properties of cow mucus. The latter in particular can be used as a base ingredient for lubricants capable of stopping the transmission of STDs and diseases. It contains the antiviral protein mucin. According to the study, such a lubricant can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by 70% and herpes by 80%.

the sniff the ants Cancer: They are an excellent alternative to medical and surgical screening tools. According to a study by the Sorbonne University Paris Nord, these tiny insects can act as sorting technique. They are able to detect ovarian and breast cancer with an accuracy of 95%.

Plants, another natural source of inspiration for scientific work

to solve some human problems, Scientific work Men in 2022 were not confined to the animal kingdom (robots, ants, cows, etc.). They also find their inspiration in plants like okra.

Of the health benefits, unlike the firefly bots, the latter is a tropical species popular in cooking, but also in medicine. This remarkably green vegetable enabled Malcolm Xing of the University of Manitoba (Canada) to convert its pressed and dried juice powder into a biogel. The latter will create a natural bandage againsthemorrhage.

With ETX Daily Up