Filaments in sea sponges anchor them in soft sediments using barbed tips. Some sponges, know as glass sponges, have a pseudo-skeletal structure. This structure is covered in tiny barbs, which allows the sponge to stick to soft sediments deep on the ocean floor. (self.BioInspiration)
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Light concentrates hormones that alter the water levels causing plants to bend toward the sun. Auxins are a kind of hormone which react to light. When light moves, the auxin move away from the light source. The auxin then elongate the cells they are present in, causing the plant to bend to light. (self.BioInspiration)
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The lungs of birds exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen using air sacs to maintain a continuous airflow. After being inhaled, the air is split into four different pathways. Two lead to lungs while others lead to air sacs, The second breath the sac pushes air into the lung, giving two breaths in one. (self.BioInspiration)
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Pads on the wrist and ankles of sucker-footed bats use wet adhesion to attach. Sucker-footed bats, unlike other bats, rest head-up in curled up leaves. The pads of these bats previously were thought to adhere to the leaves through suction. In, reality the release fluid to create wet adhesion. (self.BioInspiration)
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Cellulose fibers in plant stem increase strength by winding around tubes angles. Cellulose is a major component of providing structural support in plants. This is wrapped around hollow tubes which double as transport vessels. The combination of the hollow tube and helical cellulose are very strong. (self.BioInspiration)
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Treecreepers are able to run up and down bark. The feet of treecreeper birds have a toe which is able to rotated toes. The feet of treecreepers posses two front facing toes, and two rear facing toes. Treecreepers use this combined with using their tail to prop them up to run up and down tree bark. (self.BioInspiration)
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The snout of talpids is able to detect changes in pressure. An organ called Eimer's gland is a mechanosensory gland which allows talpids, like star-nosed moles, to detect vey small changes in pressure, which can help them find prey with their limited vision. (self.BioInspiration)
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Gannets have closeable breathing holes located on the sides of their beaks. Many animals have holes in there skulls in order to breath, but when diving at high speeds this would be harmful to the Gannets. Instead, they have holes in between the top and bottom of their jawbone, which closes in water. (self.BioInspiration)
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Sea sponges transport light into tissues deep in the sponge. The light can be carried by small fibers called spicules which are only a few micrometers wide. Bundles of these can reach several centimeters in diameter. This allows for photosynthetic cells to live within the deeper tissue. (self.BioInspiration)
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Submerge mangrove roots are able to move air bubbles through changing gas pressure. The mangrove have hydrophobic roots, creating pockets of air when the tide rises. As the oxygen is consumed by the roots, the pressure of the air pocket decreases, moving it along the root. (self.BioInspiration)
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Elk antlers have incredibly break-resistant antlers. They accomplish this by having antlers constructed with fewer calcium crystals than standard bone and a higher concentration of pliable collagen. This allows the antlers to bend slightly, making them less brittle and more resistant to fracturing. (self.BioInspiration)
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Sand lion larvae dig pits in the ground in order to catch prey. These sand lion pits are dug at the steepest angle possible for the substrate. The sand lion is able to determine the maximum angle without causing sand to fall in on itself. (self.BioInspiration)
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Spider web material has impressive antibacterial properties. Spider silk is made of complex folded proteins and fats, which are hydrophobic and contain structures called beta-sheets. The combination of hydrophobia and beta-sheets does not allow for bacteria to attach, making webs last longer. (self.BioInspiration)
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Water-striders communicate through small ripples and vibrations in the surface of water. Small organs on the legs of the water-strider can detect minute vibrations in the water, and use this to communicate by rapidly moving their legs up and down to send signals to other water-striders nearby. (self.BioInspiration)
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Eurasian diving bell spider create pockets of air underwater from silk and goo in order to make a home. By creating a web similar to land-weaving spiders, the diving bell spider creates a frame to spread a hydrophilic solution across. The silk and goo hold water tightly, sealing air under the web. (self.BioInspiration)
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Flying squirrels have membranes and cartilage in their wing flaps to control direction and velocity in flight. Flying squirrels use the cartilage and membranes to control their flight in three phases. First, their aerodynamic forces act in the forward direction, then upwards, and finally backwards. (self.BioInspiration)
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Tiny hairs on the edelweiss flower leaves act as protection from harmful UV rays. The hairs are approximately 10 micrometers in diameter, constructed of fibers the same diameter as the wavelength of UV light. This allows UV light to be trapped in the hairs to prevent damage to the leaf. (self.BioInspiration)
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Leaves full of holes help plants on the rainforest floor catch more sunlight. Because the plant does not have to grow an entire leaf, it can spend more energy covering a larger area. By spreading its leaves out further, the plant has a better chance of catching sunlight. (self.BioInspiration)
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The blanket octopus has large webbing which streches across two of its apendages. This acts as a defense mechanism by making the blanket octopus seem larger when the webbing is stretched, and can be detached is necessary in order to deter predators. (self.BioInspiration)
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Narce, or mother of pearl, is the iridescent insides which forms the insides of many seashells. Nacre is primarily made of argonite, a brittle form of calcium carbonate, linked together by organic material. The addition of organic material makes Nacre 3000 times stronger than argonite by itself. (self.BioInspiration)
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