Clippings

Welcome to the Clippings Weblog!

This Weblog is sponsored by the Biomimicry Institute and is intended for pointers and commentary on articles relating to Biomimicry.  You are encouraged to comment on any entry through the Comments field in the trailer of each post.  TypePad asks for an e-mail address which will be publicly visible to visitors of the Weblog.  Many people set up e-mail accounts on Yahoo or Hotmail specifically for this purpose, in case the e-mail gets SPAMed. 

Contributions to this Weblog are greatly appreciated!  You can post a comment to the Guest Contributions entry - I will periodically review the comments and create Clippings posts, giving credit to the original contributor.

Thanks, Norbert Hoeller

2006/09/17 I recently discovered the Biomimetica Weblog by Luis Gustavo Lira, containing a wealth of information with a focus on Biomimetics Nanotechnology, Biophotonics and Biomaterials.  With his approval, I am including links to his 10 most recent posts in the right navigator, just below Recent Comments. 

Nature’s R&D: Biomimicry Basics for Architects

Link: Nature’s R&D: Biomimicry Basics for Architects.

"Growing awareness about climate change has made designers, corporate leaders, and others increasingly open to creative approaches to old challenges. In this podcast, Kira Gould, Assoc. AIA, explores the concepts and applications of biomimicry—a method for seeking sustainable solutions by emulating nature's patterns and strategies—with Dayna Baumeister and Rose Tocke of The Biomimicry Guild."

This 26 minute podcast (iTunes and MP3 format) covers a lot of ground:

• definition of biomimicry
• Biomimicry Guild activities
• Nature's 100 Best project (initial information available October 2008)
• knowledge transfer strategies from biology to designers
• strategies that help solve human problems and also help us 'fit in' 
• examples of bio-inspired architecture, both past and present
• relationship of biophilia and biomimicry
• future of human relationship with nature
• the role of 'functional language'
• Biologists at the Design Table, incorporating biology into business
• emerging areas: Living Buildings, regenerative design, systems integration
• incorporation of Life's Principles in design competition

Thanks to Mehmet Polat Diker's post for the pointer!

EETimes.com - Researchers claim photovoltaic cell advance

Link: EETimes.com - Researchers claim photovoltaic cell advance.

Prof. Chanoch Carmeli, Dr. Shachar Richter, Dr. Itai Carmeli and Prof. Yossi Rosenwaks of the University of Tel Aviv have developed a method of constructing a hybrid photovoltaic (PV) cell that combines proteins involved in photosynthesis with solid state components.  Energy conversion efficiency is expected to be around 25 percent.  Costs are dramatically less than for silicon-based PV cells.  Since the organic compound is in a dry (rather than aqueous) state, the cells are expected to be more reliable than other photosynthesis-based technologies. 

Additional information can be found at The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.  An earlier paper on the process was published in Advanced Materials.

Thanks to Jean-Francois Barsoum for the pointer! 

Positive Sustainability: What would nature do?

Link: Positive Sustainability: What would nature do? - The Stanford Daily Online.

Nick Enge published an essay in The Standford Daily on biomimicry as a new way "of thinking and doing that are inherently sustainable."  He argues that we are far from conforming to the "ten primary principles of natural sustainability: nature runs on sunlight and uses only the energy it needs. It fits form to function and recycles everything. Cooperation and diversity are rewarded in nature, which demands local specialization. It curbs excesses from within and taps the power of limits, choosing to optimize rather than maximize. And finally, nature is beautiful."  We rely heavily on energy generated using fossil fuels and uranium, waste more than we use, and continue to destroy diversity.

Nick provides a number of examples were innovators are applying insights from nature to new products, as well as other natural feats that we have yet learned to emulate. 

Company uses biomimicry to harness power of the seas (BioPower Systems)

Link: Company uses biomimicry to harness power of the seas - Science.

As a result of successful testing at the Australian Maritime College and site analysis by the CSIRO Marine Research Laboratories, BioPower Systems announced in a February 7/2008 media release that 250kW prototypes of their bio-inspired wave and tidal power generators will be installed at two sites in Tasmania.  Fabrication will begin in mid-2008 with site installation in early 2009.  Both sites (King and Flinders Islands) currently rely on a mix of diesel generators and wind power.

An article on BioPower was published in the September 2006 BioInspired! Newsletter and in a post by Jeremy Faludi on World Changing.   

Sticky Tape Inspired by Insect Feet

Link: Sticky Tape Inspired by Insect Feet.

"Scientists have designed an extremely sticky patterned adhesive, which is twice as sticky as flat tapes used for similar purposes. The new glue-free adhesive can also stick to dusty surfaces better, can be washed with soap and water, and can be reused multiple times."

A team of researchers from the Evolutionary Biomaterials Group at the Max Plank Institute (Stuttgart) and the Biologically Inspired Robotics Laboratory at Case Western Reserve (Cleveland) studied 300 insect species to understand how they can walk on smooth surfaces, both vertical and overhead.

The principles discovered let to "insect tape", a flexible polyvinyl-siloxane material with a microstructure that increases adhesion at least two-fold over an unstructured polymer tape of the same material.  The "insect tape" is reusable, remaining sticky for many cycles even when applied to dusty surfaces.  Washing the tape in soapy water restores the initial stickiness.   Large surfaces up to 500 square centimeters have been produced.  Although other artificial adhesive materials share some of these characteristics, few materials satisfy all of them. 

The tape allowed the 120 gram Mini-Whegs(TM) robot to easily climb glass walls.  Other applications include manipulating lenses, CDs and other smooth objects, and providing controlled adhesion to glass surfaces that could be damaged by traditional adhesives.

The paper Insects did it first: a micropatterned adhesive tape for robotic applications can be downloaded for free from the journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics.

Thanks to Dayna Baumeister for the pointer!

Nature's 100 Best: October 2007 ZERI Newsletter

Link: Nature's 100 Best: October 2007 ZERI Newsletter.

This issue of ZERI's monthly newsletter highlights the Nature's 100 Best project that is "compiling the most intriguing ideas with the help of a worldwide network of scientists and analysts from business and civil society."  Janine Benyus and Gunter Pauli jointly launched the project on October 21/2007 at Bioneers by the Bay.

Other articles by Janine Benyus in this newsletter include:

• CO2 as a building material, highlighting the work of John Stringer (Electric Power Research Institute), CO2 Solution (also written up in the June 2007 BioInspired! Newsletter) and Carbozyme
• Bacterial Control without Antibiotic Resistance, describing the work of BioSignal Ltd. (also written up in the March 2007 BioInspired! Newsletter)
• Windows and Textiles that Harvest the Sun, describing the work of Dyesol, NexTech Materials and Konarka. 

BIOSIGNAL LIMITED - Excellence in Biotechnology Investment

Link: BIOSIGNAL LIMITED - Excellence in Biotechnology Investment - Professor Peter Steinberg, CEO, BioSignal Ltd.

Professor Peter Steinberg (BioSignal Limited) describes developments in the field of antibacterials to address biocide/antibiotic resistance and impact of biocides on the environment.  He covers the history behind BioSignal, the science of bacterial signally, applications in health and industry, and market potential (17 minute audio clip with 17 charts).  A PDF of the charts is available for download.

BioSignal was previously mentioned in Technology Review: Biofilms To Blame for Chronic Ear Infections and written up in the July 2006 BioInspired! newsletter.  Additional information is available on the BioSignal the Newsletters and Articles page.

Mimic nature - invent faster

Link: Mimic nature - invent faster - Apr. 25, 2008.

Janine Benyus spoke about the Biomimicry Design Movement at the recent FORTUNE Brainstorm: GREEN conference in Pasadena, and was interviewed  by David Kirkpatrick, FORTUNE senior editor.  The article touches on a number of applications of biomimicry and the concept of "evolutionarily-designed technologies" -  using ideas that already exist in nature as a source of innovation.   Work is underway to build a catalog of biological functions that would bridge between biological knowledge and commercial applications.  Such a database could help reinforce the value of maintaining biodiversity.

From honeybees to Internet servers: management of Internet hosting centers

Link: From honeybees to Internet servers: management of Internet hosting centers.

This paper in Bioinspiration & Biomimetics by Sunil Nakrani and Craig Tovey applies algorithms based on bee foraging behavior to dynamic server allocation in hosting centers.

"Server allocation closely resembles honeybee forager allocation amongst flower patches to optimize nectar influx. The resemblance inspires a honeybee biomimetic algorithm. This paper describes details of the honeybee self-organizing model in terms of information flow and feedback, analyzes the homology between the two problems and derives the resulting biomimetic algorithm for hosting centers."

Whole Life Times: The Biomimic

Link: Whole Life Times: The Biomimic.

While Life Times published a conversation with Janine Benyus that discusses the "two-year, masters-level certificate program to train designers, engineers, biologists, businessmen and others to become 'practicing biomimics'."  Janine defines a "practicing biomimic" and describes the kinds of disciplines that would benefit from the program: all types of designers interested in turning to nature for models and biologists who want to "inspire an inventor".

Janine points out how fossil fuels have dramatically enhanced our abilities, but also "pulled us away from the natural world."  Our realization of the consequences may encourage us to adopt:

"models that we can trust, things that are not just cool technologies but well-adapted technologies.   ... we live a competent biosphere that has been working on exactly the same problems we've been working on - how to live sustainably for the long haul.  ...  All the things that we are looking to do are being done - albeit in a very different way from the way we [humans] have been approaching it.  But that existence is proof that it can be done - and it's what allows me to keep getting up every morning."

Biomimetics: Design by Nature

Link: Biomimetics - National Geographic Magazine.

2008/04/29 The article includes a photo gallery with great images as well as the science and application  behind the natural analogy.  Examples include the boxfish (bionic concept car), thorny devil lizard, burr (Velcro), lotus leaf (Lotusan), humpback whale fin (wind turbine blade), sharkskin (Speedo Fastskin), blowfly (micromechanical flying insect), gecko (Stickybot), insect eyes (non-reflective coatings).

This article focuses on the work of Andrew Parker (an evolutionary biologist at the Natural History Museum of London and the University of Sydney) and other researchers in the field of biomimetics.  Key messages:

• "Biomimetics brings in a whole different set of tools and ideas you wouldn't otherwise have." (Michael Rubner, MIT)
• close observation is critical to discovering the evolutionary value of specific features
• research is required to uncover underlying principles
• applications are a key measure of success

Figuring out how to implement strategies learned from nature can be challenging.  Instead of trying to copy nature, a better approach is to identify the crucial structures and processes while continually looking for simpler ways to solve the problem.  Due to evolutionary history and the need to balance a wide range of constraints, nature's solution may be more complex than we require.

To date, relatively few biomimetic discoveries have led to mass-produced products.  Causes include unrealistically short timeline expectations, the challenges of inter-disciplinary collaboration, the multi-layered complexity of natural engineering and the difficulty of mimicking nature's construction processes.  Researchers are making progress on all fronts, and in the process, helping turn biomimetics "into a powerful tool for understanding life."

Thanks to The Natural Way to Better Ideas (Michael Fitzgerald) for the pointer!

Khosla invests in turbine tech maker Pax

Link: Khosla invests in turbine tech maker Pax | Tech news blog - CNET News.com.

"Khosla Ventures, the venture capital firm of Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla, has invested in Pax Streamline, maker of turbines, heating and air-conditioning systems, and aerospace technologies."

PAX Streamline, a spinoff of PAX Scientific, was formed to focus on turbines, heading and air-conditioning and aerospace applications.  Jay Harman's work on fluid motion is summarized in Turning nature's design into scientific breakthrough.

Novel Fan Design Offers Energy Savings To Refrigeration Market

Link: Novel Fan Design Offers Energy Savings To Refrigeration Market.

Pages 30-35 of International Appliance Manufacturing 2008 describes how various PAX fan/motor combinations tested by A. O. Smith Electrical Products reduced the evaporator stage power consumption by 23% and overall refrigerator power consumption by 3.9%.

Traditional evaporator fans throw air outwards, rather than in the direction of flow.  Fans developed by PAX Scientific provide directed airflow without the need for shrouds, increasing efficiency and reducing noise.  Smaller motors and less input power is required to delivery the same or greater air flow.

Technology Review: Bacterial Battle Generates New Antibiotics

Link: Technology Review: Bacterial Battle Generates New Antibiotics.

Researchers led by Kazuhiko Kurosawa (MIT) have discovered a new antibiotic, rhodostreptomycin, which is effective in highly acidic environments and kills the bacteria H. pylori (linked to stomach ulcers).  The antibiotic was produced by Rhodococcus fascians, a bacteria that lives in the soil and was not known to create antibiotics, although genetic sequencing showed genes related to antibiotic-like compounds. 

Rhodococcus fascians produced the new antibiotic only when cultured in the presence of Streptomyces.  Researchers believe genetic material was swapped between Streptomyces and R. fascians, either coding for the antibiotic directly or activating genetic sequences in R. fascians that are normally inactive.

The research suggests that bacteria have a wider diversity of antibiotic capabilities than previously believed.  By creating an environment in the lab that is closer to that found 'in the wild', Kurosawa's technique may prove useful in fighting bacterial drug-resistance.

Is traditional engineering the right system with which to manipulate our world? | Science in School

Link: Is traditional engineering the right system with which to manipulate our world? | Science in School.

This article by Julian Vincent suggests that we need to consider alternatives to the current way that we are doing engineering.  Vincent and his colleagues have adapted the TRIZ problem solving methodology developed by Altshuller to compare how biology and technology solves problems.  A key finding is that whereas solve 70% of technical problems by manipulating energy, biology uses energy no more than 5%.  Instead, biology appears to rely much more heavily on information and structure.  We rely on a large number of polymers, while biology 'makes do' with a much smaller number (protein and polysaccharide), structured to meet specific functional requirements. 

Vincent also points out that biological systems use embedded information at multiple levels or hierarchies, whereas engineering tends to impose structure using the "heat, beat and treat" approach.  In addition, engineering tends to focus at a specific level, rather than evaluating whether the problem might be better solved at a sub-system or super-system level.  Applying patterns learned from nature may help us improve efficiency and reduce the environmental cost of our designs.

Transmaterial: Intelligent Bioplastic

Link: Transmaterial: Intelligent Bioplastic.

Unlike conventional petroleum-based plastics, polylactic acid (PLA) plastic is mass produced by chemical synthesis using raw materials derived from corn. The production of PLA contributes less CO2 to the atmosphere than that of conventional plastics and offers superior biodegradability after disposal. Because PLA plastics are often more expensive than conventional ones, researchers are developing ways to add value to PLA plastics.

Dr. Masatoshi Iji (NEC Corporation) has developed a recyclable, shape-memory PLA plastic with a cross-linked structure that can be deformed into a new shape through heat and pressure.  When heated to 60 degrees Celsius, the plastic will restore itself to its original shape.  At 160 degrees Celsius, the plastic melts and can be recycled. 

This is a good example of adding structure (information) to a material, creating unique properties. 

Thanks to Eileen Stephens for the pointer!

Shell shock - MIT News Office

Link: Shell shock - MIT News Office.

Holding up an abalone shell before a visitor, Belcher describes the moment when the two threads--persistent interest and sudden insight--came together, forming the basis of her current research, which spans inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and electrical engineering.

Intrigued since childhood by pearls and pearl-making mollusks, she was impressed by the abalone's shell: it's 98 percent calcium carbonate--what we call chalk, only 3,000 times stronger.

"The abalone makes this amazing material out of a common mineral," she says.

"Suddenly, I wondered, what if we could assemble materials like the abalone does--but not be limited to one element? What if we could bond protein to other elements in the periodic table and grow new materials?"

Prof. Angela Belcher and colleagues Paula Hammond and Yet-Ming Chiang (MIT) are leading research into new nano-materials using self-assembly.  Belcher has engineered bacteriophages (viruses) to attach a wide range of useful compounds and then self-assembly in specific structures.  Her team is currently working on growing all components of rechargeable batteries, including the anode, cathode and electrolyte.  Other areas of interest include self-healing materials

Thanks to Eileen Stephens for the pointer!

Technology Review: Adaptable Polymer Inspired by Sea Cucumbers

Link: Technology Review: Adaptable Polymer Inspired by Sea Cucumbers.

Researchers led by Christoph Weder (Case Western University) have developed a polymer that softens in contact with a water-based solvent, and then stiffens as the solvent evaporates.  Cellulose fibers were extracted from the mantels of sea cucumbers (tunicates) and embedded in a polymer.  Hydroxyl groups bond the fibers together to form a rigid material.  A water-based solvent caused the hydroxyl bonds to loosen, allowing the material to become soft.

The material could be useful for neural implants.  Current metal electrodes cause scar tissue, while the new polymer would become soft in contact with tissue.  Other applications include a 'smart cast' that can be cycled between a hard and pliable state.  Weder's team is looking at other cellulose fibers, such as wood and cotton.

How We Localize Surround Sound

Link: How We Localize Surround Sound.

Researchers Axel Michelsen and Ole Naesbye Larsen (University of Southern Denmark) have published a paper in Bioinspiration and Biomimetics explaining how small organisms like insects and birds can determine the direction of sound. 

Whereas the separation between the ears in humans supports "pressure reception"  that primarily involve sensing of source by the outer surface of the eardrum, birds and grasshoppers are examples of organisms that reply on "pressure difference reception".  A channel between the ears allows the organism to measure the difference in sound energy between the inner and outer surfaces of the eardrums. 

Humans with hearing aids often have trouble determining where sounds come from.  Hearing aids could exchange sound information via radio signals to enhance the cues that our ears use to localizing sound.

Moth eyes may hold key to more efficient solar cells

Link: Moth eyes may hold key to more efficient solar cells.

A team led by Peng Jiang of the University of Florida are adapting the structure of moth eyes to increase the efficiency of solar cells.  Existing anti-reflective coatings are only effective within a narrow range of frequencies, making solar cells most efficient at only a part of the solar spectrum.  The anti-reflective coatings are also expensive to produce.

The corneas of moth eyes are covered with a regular array of bumps, likely as a 'stealth' defense against predators.  Jiang has developed a method using self-assembly to create similar bumps on silicon wafers.  In addition to being inexpensive, reflection is reduces to about 2%.  Jiang is planning a start-up to commercialize the process.

Technology Review: Strong, Light, and Stretchy Materials

Link: Technology Review: Strong, Light, and Stretchy Materials.

A team led by Ludwig Gauckler of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich) has developed a composite of aluminum oxide and a polymer that combines lightness, strength and flexibility.  The researchers studied how seashells form nacre and found that the length to thickness ratio of the calcium carbonate platelets is critical to balancing hardness with resilience. 

The composite is formed by self-assembling alternate layers of aluminum oxide platelets and the polymer chitosan on a glass plate.  Work is underway to develop faster production techniques that can create larger shapes.  The structure of the composite provides strength in two directions, rather than the single-dimension strength of fiber-reinforced composites.  Possible applications include bone and dental implants,  light-weight structural parts for cars and airplanes, and bendable electronics. 

Technology Review: Sticky Tape to Heal Surgical Incisions

Link: Technology Review: Sticky Tape to Heal Surgical Incisions.

2008/03/13 updated to add link to CNN article

Researchers led by Robert Langer and Jeffrey Karp of MIT have developed a super-sticky, biodegradable elastic tape that could replace sutures and staples.  The structure of the tape was inspired by gecko feet.  Pillars 200-500 nanometer wide are formed in the elastomer using a silicon mold, and the tape is then coated with a biocompatible dextran glue.  The article suggests a combination of capillary and van der Waals forces pull tissue into the areas between the pillars, while the glue sticks to the tissue proteins. 

While not removable and re-attachable (one of the strengths of gecko feet).  the tape has shown excellent adhesion in animal tests  The tape would avoid the tissue damage of sutures and staples, speed up surgery, and could also be used to deliver drugs.  Work is underway to tailor the properties of the tape for specific tissues and applications.

For another article, see Geckos' feet inspire new high-tech bandage, which mentions the drawbacks of existing medical glues (poor mechanical properties, brittle, inflammatory response).

Using Nature as a Design Guide

Link: Using Nature as a Design Guide.

BusinessWeek included an article on Janine Benyus and the biomimicry design movement in their Green Design Special Report.  In addition to being called upon to design greener products for companies like General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, IDEO and NASA., the Biomimicry Guild is also helping companies with internal processes that can lead to a 'green company', of which Interface is one of the leading examples. 

The article describes a number of commercially-available innovations inspired by nature, including the bullet train nose, advanced wind turbine blades, biodegradable glues and a collision avoidance system developed by Volvo based on how locusts avoid crashing into each other.  IBM is also experimenting with self-assembly techniques for manufacturing processors, based on the way abalone shells grow. 

Janine is working on a new book, Nature's 100 Best Technologies, "a compendium of the elegant solutions in nature that answer a lot of questions business people are asking right now".  Many of these innovations are based on organisms that are endangered, encouraging industry to help protect threatened habitats.  Along with a companion website, the book hopes to "radically increase the reach of her thinking and consolidate biomimetic design as a go-to corporate sustainable strategy."

Thanks to Eileen Stephens for the pointer!

LifeGen.de - Bionics: International Scientists are developing robotic rats

Link: LifeGen.de - Bionics: International Scientists are developing robotic rats.

Based on principles of active sensing adopted widely in the animal kingdom, a multinational team of scientists is developing innovative touch technologies, including a 'whiskered' robotic rat.

A research team led by Professor Ehud Ahissar of the Weizmann Institute has identified how whiskers help rats to efficiently explore their surroundings and have implemented their insights in a 'whiskered' robotic rat. 

Rat's whiskers are 'active sensors', repetitively sweeping the surroundings and encoding information in the horizontal, vertical and radial planes. Complex feedback loops appear to be involved that modify the movement of the whiskers based on the inputs received.  Similar interactions between control systems, sensors and the environment are discussed in the paper Self-Organization, Embodiment, and Biologically Inspired Robotics.

Technology Review: Creating Ethanol from Wood More Efficiently

Link: Technology Review: Creating Ethanol from Wood More Efficiently.

ZeaChem (Melno Park, CA) has achieved a 40% improvement in ethanol yield from biomass using Moorella thermoacetica, a bacteria utilized by termites and cows to break down cellulose.  The process starts with conversion of biomass to sugars.  Traditional processes use yeast to ferment the sugars into ethanol, during which up to a third of the carbon is released as carbon dioxide.  ZeaChem's process uses the bacteria to create acetic acid from the sugars, which is then converted to ethyl acetate.  ZeaChem has developed an integrated process where the non-digestible lignin in the biomass is gasified to create a hydrogen-rich gas which is used to convert the ethyl acetate to ethanol.  Part of the gas is used to provide energy for the gasification process. 

By using all components of the biomass, no waste is created and no fossil fuel is required.  The process is expected to deliver 10-12 units of output energy for every 1 unit of fossil energy consumed in the process lifecycle, compared to a 1.6 energy ratio for ethanol from corn.  The process is adaptable to different inputs, from simple sugars (e.g., sugar cane), complex sugars (e.g., corn starch) and mixed sugars in cellulosic biomass. 

Technology Review: Cheap Ethanol from Tires and Trash

Link: Technology Review: Cheap Ethanol from Tires and Trash.

Coskata of Warrenville (Illinois) has developed a method for more efficiently converting biomass to ethanol, at least within the laboratory.  Similar to other methods, the process starts with gasification: through heat, organic materials are convert to synthetic gas comprised of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.  Rather than using catalysts to reform the gas into various alcohols, Coskata uses  bacteria to create ethanol.  GM aligns with Coskata on cellulosic ethanol; good plan or Exxon's Reliance re-visited? suggests the bacteria is Clostridium carboxidivorans, discovered by Oklahoma State in a waste lagoon. 

The process is more efficient in that it can handle a wider mix of gases than catalysts, and also produces a water/ethanol mixture than can be purified using vapor permeation.  A key feature of the bioreactor  involves creating a biofilm of the bacteria on the surface of semi-permeable, hollow fibers through which the syngas is pumped, allowing the bacteria to digest the syngas and release the ethanol into water flowing on the outside of the fibers.  Bacteria often form biofilms rather than being free-floating, as described in the Biosignal article in the March 2006 issue of the BioInspired! Newsletter.

Estimates suggest 90% efficiency, a yield of 100 gallons of ethanol from a ton of organic materials, and a production cost of under U$1/gallon.  General Motors has partnered with Coskata to commercialize the process. 

A diagram of the process is found at More On Coskata's $1 per Gallon Ethanol.

Newswise Science News | Feeding the World Without Genetic Engineering

Link: Newswise Science News | Feeding the World Without Genetic Engineering.

Work by Jianming Yu, an assistant professor of agronomy at Kansas State University and Rex Bernardo, a professor of agronomy and plant genetics at the University of Minnesota is "challenging the assumption that genetically engineered plants are the great scientific and technological revolution in agriculture and the only efficient and cheap way to feed a growing population".  Rather than identifying specific genome regions and modifying them with genes from other species, they have been using Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) to identify information across the genome that can be used to quickly select for different crop characteristics. 

The May 2007 issue of Food and Environment (Union of Concerned Scientists) describes MAS as "screen[ing] for useful genes that are already present in the plant or a related wild plant."  By identifying markers associated with these genes. breeders can rapidly develop crops with desired characteristics.  This approach is particularly useful for traits that are controlled through the expression of multiple genes, especially if the individual effect of any specific gene is small.

Australian Water Invention wins “The Asian Innovation Award”

Link: Australian Water Invention wins “The Asian Innovation Award”.

Biolytix won the Asian Innovation Award for 2007 for a sewage system that is an "ecosystem in a tank".  It costs 50% less to build and uses 90% less energy to operate.  The design is modular, scaling from household to commercial or neighborhood applications.  The output can be used to irrigate gardens, parks and golf courses.

The Biolytix website includes details on the technology.  The system screens out organic material and composts it aerobically, similar to the processes seen in nature.  It uses the organic material as a filter medium, buffering the process and allowing it to handle fluctuating volumes.  It is also more resilient to any toxic chemicals in the waste stream. 

AA - CH2 - Six stars, but is it Architecture?

Link: AA - CH2 - Six stars, but is it Architecture?.

"The building is probably Australia’s first urban example of an architecture that is directly based on biomimicry. Every aspect of the building has been examined and rethought from first principles, evolving new precepts that are based in the desire to be as true as possible to the fundamental “laws of nature”. The design philosophy is concerned with developing appropriate architectural responses that are a direct and honest expression of the biodynamic relationships that nature uses in her own designs."

Designed by Mick Pearce (who also designed the Eastgate Centre) and DesignInc, the building combines a wide range of sustainability features in a "visually resolved architectural form".  It is the first building to achieve a six star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. 

The shading of the facade responses to external conditions.  Six wind turbines uses wind energy to move air through the building.  The ceiling and floor elements are both air ducts and thermal mass.  The article includes pictures of the exterior and interior.

CH2: Australia’s greenest building (inhabitat) lists other features such as blackwater sewage recycling, 'shower towers', gas-fired co-generation, and waste-heat recycling.  The sustainability features are expected to have a 10-year payback.

CH2’s stars shine brighter (infolink, Building Products News) claims the building will "reduce electricity consumption by 82 percent; reduce gas consumption by 87 percent; reduce emissions by 87 percent and reduce mains water supply by 72 percent."

Additional links:

• Council House Two – the eco-office block of the future (interview with Mick Pearce)

 

Inhabitat » Green Building in Zimbabwe Modeled After Termite Mounds

Link: Inhabitat » Green Building in Zimbabwe Modeled After Termite Mounds.

The article describes how termite mounds relate temperature and relates the principles to the Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, designed by Mick Pearce with Arup Associates.   Using an innovative design that relies on shading, thermal mass and passive cooling, the building requires dramatically less energy than similar buildings and saved $3.5 million in capital cost (10% of the total cost of the building) by eliminating the need for an imported air conditioning plant.  The article has numerous pictures of the building exterior and interior, as well as pictures and drawings of termite mounds.

Additional links:

• Eastgate Development, Harare, Zimbabwe (Arup)
• Learning From Termites (AIArchitect)
• The Sandkings (Animal Engineering: The Ultimate Smart Structure) 2008/04/24 from BIONIS newsletter

Technology Review: Q&A: The Future of Probiotics

Link: Technology Review: Q&A: The Future of Probiotics.

"... an emerging body of scientific data is showing how probiotic treatments can beneficially impact both the millions of microbes within our gut and the health of their human host."

Most beneficial microbes that are part of the ecology of our gastrointestinal tract cannot be cultured and studied in the laboratory.  Research into metagenomics allows researcher such as Jeff Gordon (Washington University, St. Louis) to study these microbes as a community.  Research into the complex relationship amongst different microbes and the human organism may help us understand and potentially treat a range of health conditions such as allergies, Crohn's disease and diarrhea. 

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | A greener way to recover methane

Link: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | A greener way to recover methane.

"Oil reservoirs could have an environmental make-over with the help of bacteria."

Researchers led by Steve Larter (University of Calgary) and Martin Jones (University of Newcastle) have published a report in Nature on a process by which anaerobic bacteria break down crude oil to create methane.  The process occurs naturally in oil reservoirs and involves intermediary bacteria that produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which are then converted to methane. 

Research is underway on how to speed up the process by adding nutrients (phosphorus and some vitamins) that currently limit the ability of the bacteria to grow.  This may allow the process to be used as an alternative to steam injection or to recover oil from exhausted reservoirs.  The researchers also suggest that carbon dioxide from the combustion of methane could be piped back into the reservoir, creating a closed-loop system that reduces carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

If the field trials scheduled for 2009 are successful, this process could reduce the energy and water currently required to extract heavy oils, while creating a fuel that has a much lower carbon content than oil.

 

Technology Review: Making Fuel from Leftovers

Link: Technology Review: Making Fuel from Leftovers.

Researchers led by Bruce Logan of Penn State University have developed a modified microbial electrolysis cell where bacteria break down acetic acid (from fermentation of plant waste) and cellulose.  The cell creates about 0.3 volts.  A short burst of 0.2 volts external energy released hydrogen gas.  Almost 3x more energy was created than used to drive the process.  The process is more efficient that electrolysis and can use cellulose directly without requiring preprocessing to break down the cellulose into sugars.  Research is underway to find alternatives to the platinum currently used in one of the electrodes.

Technology Review: Termite Guts Could Boost Ethanol Efficiency

Link: Technology Review: Termite Guts Could Boost Ethanol Efficiency.

Researchers at Caltech led by Jaret Leadbetter have completed a metagenomic study of the microbes living in the Costa Rica Nasutitermes termites and have identifed nearly 1000 enzymes involved in breaking down cellulose.  Verenium, a enzyme and biofuels company is testing some of the enzymes by themselves and in combination to determine if they are more effective than existing processes.   

Technology Review: Carbon-Dioxide Plastic Gets Funding

Link: Technology Review: Carbon-Dioxide Plastic Gets Funding.

Novomer of Ithaca, New York is a spinoff from Cornell University developing plastics (aliphatic polycarbonates) from carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.  They have secured $6.6M in venture-capital funding to commercialize a process using epoxides and a zinc-based catalyst that works at ambient pressure and temperature.  Previous attempts required expensive catalysts, high pressure and temperature, driving up the cost to over $100/pound.  The new process is expected to be cost-competitive with plastics produced from petroleum. 

The characteristics of the Novomer polymer can be controlled using the different epoxides.  In addition, the plastic is biodegradable.

Fantastic plastic could cut CO2 emissions and purify water (Media Release)

Link: Fantastic plastic could cut CO2 emissions and purify water (Media Release).

Researchers at the University of Texas, Hanyang University (Korea) and CSIRO are developing a plastic membrane with hourglass-shaped pores, similar to the aquaporins in plant cell membranes that allow water to pass through the membranes while blocking other molecules.  The membrane use a thermally rearranged (TR) plastic that is stable at high temperatures yet has a high gas transport rate, several hundred times faster than existing membranes.  The pores are more consistent in size than have been found in other plastics, resulting in a fourfold increase purity of the separated gases.

The plastic membrane can separate carbon dioxide from methane, an important step note in natural gas processing and landfill gas recovery.  Other applications include water purification, desalination, and hydrogen production.  The membranes may even find applications in fuel cells.

Additional material can be found at New Membrane Strips Carbon Dioxide from Natural Gas Faster and Better, as well as an interview with Dr. Anita Hill of CSIRO.

 

Thanks to Ian Abbott Donnelly for the pointer!

Smarty Plants: Inside the World's Only Plant-Intelligence Lab

Link: Smarty Plants: Inside the World's Only Plant-Intelligence Lab.

The International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology (LINV) specializes in "plant neurobiology", the study of "signalling and communication at all levels of plant organization, starting from single molecules and ending at ecological communities."  The lab is promoting a "view [that] sees plants as information processing organisms with complex communication throughout the individual plant. Plants are as sophisticated in behavior as animals but their potential has been masked because it operates on time scales many orders of magnitude less than that operating in animals."

A number of studies are explored the chemical and physical signaling mechanisms in plants.  A feasibility study is looking at the concept of devloping 'plantoids' for soil exploration of other planets.

Although one can argue about the definition of intelligence, it is clear from research such as the Influence of Global Warming on 'Greenup' that plants can display unexpectedly complex behavior.

Technology Review: Virus-Built Electronics

Link: Technology Review: Virus-Built Electronics.

A team led by Angela Belcher at MIT are using viruses as self-organizing templates to create new nanomaterials.  Viruses form orderly patterns when sufficiently concentrated, and can be modified to bind inorganic materials.  This approach has been used to create thin films for rechargeable batteries.  Belcher is developing ways of creating specialized fibers. 

The article describes how 'directed evolution' can be used to identify the changes required such that the virus will bind to specific materials.  Although a form of genetic engineering, the results may help us understand the principles behind self-assembly in nature.  In addition, the viruses are used in a manufacturing process - adequate controls would need to be implemented to avoid spreading the virus.

Technology Review: Glue That Sticks to Nearly Everything

Link: Technology Review: Glue That Sticks to Nearly Everything.

Researchers led by Phillip Messersmith of Northwestern University have identified a compound similar to two of the active components in the 'glue' that mussels use to attach themselves.  The compound can form thin films to which a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials will stick.  The film can also be patterned using microlithography, both to create electronic circuits and specific patterns of organic substances.  The films self-assemble from dopamine when the correct concentrations and pH levels are maintained.

The compound

Borrowing from nature | Economist.com

Link: Borrowing from nature | Economist.com.

This article primarily describes the work of Grimshaw, a UK architecture firm, to apply biomimetic design that is not only more environmentally conscious but also makes sense financially.  Designs mentioned include:

• the Eastgate Centre in Harare that cools the building with a design based on termite mounds
• work by Dr. Jeronimidis (University of Reading) on vents that adapt to the relative moisture inside and outside of a building
• desalination and cooling modeled on the Nambia beetle and camel's nostril, reducing energy consumption by almost 90%
• an indoor tropical rainforest that is carbon-neutral and generate revenue by treating biodegradable waste

Professor Julian Vincent sees great potential in being inspired by functions in nature, rather than form.  In addition, Mr. Pawlyn of Grimshaw believes these projects can "reconnect people with resources", encouraging them to treat natural systems with greater respect.

Thanks to Jean-Francois Barsoum for the pointer!

Discovery Channel :: Microorganisms Key to Pearly Paint

Link: Discovery Channel :: News - Technology :: Microorganisms Key to Pearly Paint.

Researchers led by Andrew Parker of Green College, Oxford University, are developing techniques for culturing diatoms for their ability to alter light.  Diatoms contain networks of tiny holes, which selectively reflect light to create an opalescent effect.  Diatoms can be easily cultured.  Their shells can then be added to a transparent carrier. 

Challenges include understanding what conditions will lead to specific structures in the diatom shells.  This knowledge combined with the development of self-assembly techniques may allow us to create artificial structures similar to the diatoms.

Thanks to Eileen Stephens for the pointer!

Tree-frog feet inspire glue with better grip - USATODAY.com

Link: Tree-frog feet inspire glue with better grip - USATODAY.com.

A team at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur led by Abhijit Majumder studied how tree frogs stick to surfaces, but can easily release their feet.  When conventional adhesive tape is removed, cracks form in the adhesive and reduce stickiness.  Tree frog feet have channels that both increase adhesion and prevent crack propagation.  The researchers designed a reusable adhesive with embedded channels filled with air or liquid.  The adhesive could also be repeatedly removed and reused, while adhesion increased up to 30-fold.

Thanks to Ellen Domb for the pointer!

Back to Nature (Materials World)

Link: Back to Nature (Materials World).

This two-page PDF looks at how nature can inspire materials that have minimal ecological footprints.  The article starts by describing macroscopic approaches, using as examples the Mercedes-Benz boxfish concept car, Lotus Effect, bat-inspired sound detection and others. 

The rest of article explores molecular processes relating to the structure of proteins, such as spider silk, anti-freeze proteins, organic/inorganic substances such as nacre, the structural capabilities of DNA/RNA, lipids and carbohydrates.  Understanding the principles of self-assembly and self-organization at the molecular level is key to both finding new uses for these molecules, as well as developing artificial substances that combine functional properties with environmental sustainability.

Thanks fo John Summerscales and the biomimetics listserver for the pointer!

TheStar.com - Toronto firm's gadget imitates how bees solve problems without a central commander

Link: TheStar.com - Toronto firm's gadget imitates how bees solve problems without a central commander.

Regen Energy of Toronto is applying 'swarm logic' to develop a "wireless device that allows major electrical appliances in a building to communicate with each other at a very basic level, with the goal of minimizing how much power these appliances collectively use at a given point in time."  Without requiring a central controller, it minimizes the number of appliances operating concurrently.  Benefits include reducing peak load for a building from 20-30% (which can dramatically reduce the electricity bill) and lower electrical grid peak demand (often provided from coal or gas-fired plants). 

Although 'central control' systems have a proven track record, costs raise dramatically as the system scales out, and these 'top-down' systems can fail dramatically.  Distributed, "emergent systems tend to be much more robust in the long run, and tend to survive these big disturbances a lot better."

A biomimetic hero

Link: Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - News & Events - Press Releases.
Joanna Aizenberg, Gordon McKay Professor of Materials Science at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, was named the 2008 recipient of the Ronald Breslow Award for Achievement in Biomimetic Chemistry on behalf of the American Chemical Society.             

The award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of biomimetic chemistry, was established on March 24, 2001 at a symposium held at Columbia University in honor of Ronald Breslow ’52, ’54, ’55.            

Aizenberg's research is aimed at understanding some of the basic principles of biomineralization and the efficiency with which biology solves complex problems in the design of functional inorganic materials. She applies such biological principles to developing bio-inspired synthetic routes and nanofabrication strategies, with a particular focus on advanced materials and devices.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Robot fins to propel submarines

Link: BBC NEWS | Technology | Robot fins to propel submarines.

Technology Review: Kristala Jones Prather, Reverse-engineering biology

Link: Technology Review: Kristala Jones Prather, Reverse-engineering biology.

Kristala Jones Prather is highlighted as a Technology Review 35 "2007 Young Innovator" for her work in synthetic biology.  Prather is developing a database of chemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes, along with "algorithms that will identify the enzymes most useful for constructing novel meta­bolic pathways--in many cases leading to chemicals that are not produced through any natural biosynthetic pathway."  The program will either identify the best enzyme or, if none exists, identify enzymes that could be modified.

Commentary: Synthetic biology can greatly advance our knowledge of metabolic pathways.  The challenge will be improving our understanding of biological systems, taking into account the interactions between metabolic pathways.

Thanks to Raphael Stevens for the pointer!

ScienceDaily: Ultraclean Combustion Technology Developed For Electricity Generation

Link: ScienceDaily: Ultraclean Combustion Technology Developed For Electricity Generation.

Robert Cheng of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed a Low Swirl Injector for gas turbines, "a mechanically simple device with no moving parts that imparts a mild spin to the gaseous fuel and air mixture .... The flame ... burns at a lower temperature than that of conventional burners."  Nitrogen oxide levels are more than 5x lower than from conventional turbines.  The technology will burn a wide range of fuels, including carbon-neutral sources from landfills, refineries and waste treatment plants, as well as synthetic gas from biomass.

According to Cheng, "The LSI principle defies conventional approaches ... Principles from turbulent fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and flame chemistry are all required to explain the science underlying this combustion phenomenon.”  On the surface, the concept sounds similar to the PAX Streamlining Principle.

Thanks to Tim McGee for the pointer!

Borrowing from nature's best ideas | Science | Guardian Unlimited

Link: Borrowing from nature's best ideas | Science | Guardian Unlimited.

From super-advanced glue to shimmering lipstick, the simplest living things are providing the inspiration for futuristic materials

Biomimicry and computing

Link: The Bytes and the Bees - News and Analysis by PC Magazine.

In biomimetics, biological systems are dissected for the potential to give computers the ability to learn, adapt to change, protect, and repair themselves. Already, hardware, software, and Web technology has benefited from biomimetics.