Bioinspired microfibers for water collection have attracted increasing attention with the aim of alleviating water shortages in water-deficient areas. Here, we review recent progress in microfibers inspired by spider silk for water collection. We summarize and analyze the fiber types, fabrication methods, water-collecting mechanisms and water collection behaviors of bioinspired microfibers […]

Bat wings are fundamentally different from bird wings. The underlying structure of a bat’s wing is made up of “a metamorphic musculoskeletal system that has more than 40 degrees of freedom” and bones that actively deform during every wing beat. The wing surface itself is an “anisotropic […]

Inspired by a scallop’s strong underwater propulsion mechanism, we designed and prototyped a scallop robot capable of clapping and swimming. In this work, an artificial velum was used to work as a check valve to stimulate the robot’s swimming. A couple of supporting plates were fixed on the robot shells to […]

Researchers have developed an octopus-inspired soft robotic arm that can grip, move, and manipulate a wide range of objects. Its flexible, tapered design, complete with suction cups, gives the gripper a firm grasp on objects of all shapes, sizes and textures — from eggs to iPhones to large exercise balls.

When biomedical engineer Jeff Karp has questions, he looks to animals for answers. In 2009, Karp gathered his team at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston to brainstorm novel ways to capture circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream. They mulled over the latest microfluidic devices. […]