Nature & Possible Inventions

Nature and the animals we hear about are amazing. They know how to survive and we can learn a lot from them. After reading this article, I was pretty impressed and wanted to let you know we owe a bunch to our fellow mammals. We need to give them the respect they deserve.

One such wonder is a drug-delivery patch that was inspired by the octopus. Scientists collaborated in China and Switzerland to bring this development and make it a reality. The cup is placed on the inside of the cheek and administers orally.

Then there is the sea cucumber which was inspiration for a magnetic, shape-alternating robot which liquefies when warmed, forming once again as it cools down. They hope to use this to remove items from a stomach that could be harmful.

An interest in blood clotting and thrombosis was taken to a new level by researching hibernating bears. A protein that prevents this is not present in the winter but reappears in the summer. Scientists feel this knowledge might help them to discover who is at risk for thrombosis.

Then there is the glass squid that is transparent with the exception of eye shine. In order to avoid detection, they have an eyelid function that reflects light like a mirror. Light technologies could benefit like solar panels and more. The possibilities are many.

Migrating Monarch butterflies are also under the microscope, so to speak. It seems the pattern of dark and light offers a heating and cooling effect that creates air pockets that might help with lift. Those butterflies that do not migrate do not have the same patterns. Scientists think this life concept could help with drones.

One shrub is also of particular interest since it is able to collect water from the air. Athel Tamarisks take salty water from the soil and excrete salt into the air from their leaves. At night, the salt crystals allow them to take water from the air. Scientists think cloud-seeding could be enhanced with this tech.