Man Climbs Glass Like a Gecko
June 18, 2014
Bio-inspired technologies are starting to reach the market.
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Mighty Mite and Spider Gymnast: Arachnids Inspire Scientists
April 28, 2014
We have a new land speed record. You'd have to run 1300 mph to keep up with this critter at its scale.
Turkeys Aren't Stupid
January 26, 2014
Turkeys that are inspiring homeland security technology are just one example of hot designs engineers are finding in the biosphere's treasure chest.
Amazing Animals
January 18, 2014
The capabilities of animals large and small continue to fascinate scientists and the public. Here are some recent findings.
On the Origin of Snakes
December 6, 2013
New studies of snakes and their genes are surprising scientists with stories of "rapid evolution." Some findings offer potential for human health.
Overcoming Natural Evil with Good
November 1, 2013
Things that bite and sting are not always 100% harmful. Maybe some of our categories of natural evil are due to ignorance.
Animal Engineering Is Not Just a Metaphor
October 10, 2013
Some evolutionists complain that talk of molecular machines and engineered systems in the living world is a misleading figure of speech. Why, then, do human engineers seek to reverse-engineer them?
Survival of the Weakest
August 21, 2013
If "sometimes it pays to be a weakling," what does that mean for 154 years of Darwinian teaching about survival of the fittest? What does it mean, further, when sexual selection doesn't work?
Animal and Plant Tricks
July 10, 2013
There's no end of amazing tricks in the living world – adaptations that aid their success. Finding them is one thing. Explaining them is another.
Soil, Sustainability, and the Blue Revolution
February 20, 2013
Life-sustaining resources are right beneath our feet, says a Penn State hydrologist.
What Do a Toucan, an Oyster and a Spider Have in Common? Bio-Engineers' Drool
February 17, 2013
If we want to build more robust, lightweight materials, two researchers say, look to nature.
Make Like a Dog, Owl, or Beetle: How Biomimetics Will Improve Our Lives
November 30, 2012
The greatest breakthroughs in health and engineering may be as near as the back yard: 13 more stimulating stories from biomimetics.
Butterfly Cities and Spider Optics
October 22, 2012
Skycrapers of the future may shine in brilliant butterfly colors. Optical biosensors may be made from spider webs. These are just a few of the engineering marvels coming from biomimetics—the imitation of nature.
Follow the Leader: Plants and Animals
May 7, 2012
Need solutions to engineering problems? Look no further than the plants and animals around you. That's what more and more scientists are doing.
Biomimetics for Your Christmas Wish List
December 8, 2011
Biomimetics (the imitation of nature) continues to promise cool gadgets and useful materials that will someday yield prized gifts under the tree. Some of them might even save your life.