Humpback Whale Fins: Wind Power
Humpback whales are one of the largest animals on Earth, and yet they move with speed thanks to momentum from their well-designed flippers. Humpback fins have been studied and modeled for wind turbines because of their tubercles (bumps found on their fins), which help with aerodynamic improvements.
A company called WhalePower found that the tubercles leave an 8 percent improvement in lift, a 32 percent reduction in drag, and allow for a 40 percent increase in angle of attack over smooth flippers. They’re using this to design wind turbines with increased efficiency, which also has the potential to improve the safety and performance of airplanes, fans, and more.
Cod: Antifreeze in Blood Banks
Scientists found that Arctic Cod have developed an evolutionary mechanism to keep them from freezing in the icy waters they inhabit. The Arctic cod is circumpolar and occurs in coastal habitats during both summer and winter in areas in and around Alaska. Cod keep from freezing because they have actual antifreeze proteins (literally called antifreeze glycoprotein) that circulates in their blood to keep it in liquid form, and not ice. This led researchers at Warwick University to create a new polymer to preserve blood called Polyvinyl alcohol that acts like antifreeze and prevents freezing, which can kill cells.
Giraffes: Blood Pressure Sustainability
Giraffes are some of the tallest animals on Earth, which means their blood has a lot of area to circulate. Scientists have used their bodies to help humans with treatment for venous leg ulcers with compression therapy. A venous leg ulcer is the most common type of leg ulcer, accounting for more than 90% of all cases.
Venous leg ulcers can develop after a minor injury, where persistently high pressure in the veins of the legs has damaged the skin.
The size of a giraffe's heart and feet are twice that of humans, yet they also have smaller calf muscles, no moving toes, and minimal ankle joint movement. However, they have skin that’s extremely tough, fibrous, and non-elastic, which creates a rigid sleeve that optimizes venous return. Scientists have used this to create a compression system for humans suffering from edema and resulting venous leg ulcers.
Hummingbirds: Helicopter Technology
Hummingbirds have the ability to fly backwards and hover in place, which makes them similar to helicopters. Researchers from Stanford University and Wageningen University published a study after tracking the torque from wings of 12 different species of hummingbirds and found that the birds’ ratio of their wing’s length to their width determined their ability to sustain hovering power. Specifically, hummingbirds with a larger aspect ratio (3.5 to 4.0 for hummingbirds) used less power. Engineers hope to use this information in helicopter design.
Camel Nostrils: Saltwater Desalination for Irrigation
Camels live in the driest climates on earth, and yet they’re somehow able to function with limited water resources. So scientists have taken a hint. Camels conserve water by cooling exhaled air during the night, extracting water vapor from the exhaled air, and absorbing and holding onto water molecules from the surrounding air.
Researchers in the Sahara Desert are using the same technique to remove salt from saltwater to irrigate plants by using cool ground water to evaporate warm sea water, which is then condensed in a salt-free form.
Woodpecker Skulls: Black Boxes
Ever wonder how woodpeckers are able to absolutely pound the hell out of tree trunks all day long and somehow continue functioning? It’s because their skulls have built-in shock absorbers, and scientists are stealing their natural design for airplane black boxes.
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, used video and CT scans of woodpeckers to discover that their skulls are designed with four structures that absorb mechanical shock, and their beaks also have an area filled with a spongy and cerebrospinal fluid that work to inhibit vibration and concussions. The scientists used this to create more shock-resistant flight recorders, also known as black boxes.
Mosquitoes: Surgical Needles
Scientists are using mosquitoes’ sneaky biting ability to make needles less painful for humans. Researchers and engineers at Kansai University in Japan took cues from the mosquito’s needle-like mouth (called its proboscis) to design a minimally invasive, three-pronged needle. The needle also vibrates slightly at about 15 hz., mimicking a real bite that eases the needle into the skin, lessening pain. Tests have proved that the needle worked flawlessly.
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