CleanTechnica » Biomimicry

CleanTechnica » Biomimicry http://cleantechnica.com Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:48:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1 Jellyfish Barge: Biomimicry At Its Best http://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/10/jellyfish-barge-biomimicry-best/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/10/jellyfish-barge-biomimicry-best/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2014 07:52:44 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=76135 The Jellyfish Barge, if you have not heard word about it, is one potential worldwide food and water solution, which deserves high praise. Here is what the designers an biologists at the think tank Pnat set their stage, citing World Bank population projections. “The World Bank predicts that the world population will grow to almost

Jellyfish Barge: Biomimicry At Its Best was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/10/jellyfish-barge-biomimicry-best/feed/ 20 Biomimicry Run Amok: New Micro Air Vehicles Can Swarm Like Bees http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/09/biomimicry-run-amok-with-micro-air-vehicles/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/09/biomimicry-run-amok-with-micro-air-vehicles/#comments Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:27:22 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=74713 The US Army is developing biomimicry micro air vehicles (MAVs) that can see like bees and swarm inside buildings, caves, and other challenging environments

Biomimicry Run Amok: New Micro Air Vehicles Can Swarm Like Bees was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/09/biomimicry-run-amok-with-micro-air-vehicles/feed/ 5 Moth Eyeballs Inspire Glare-Dimming Gold-Coating For Solar Panels http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/08/moth-eyeballs-inspire-glare-dimming-gold-coating-solar-panels/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/08/moth-eyeballs-inspire-glare-dimming-gold-coating-solar-panels/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:50:25 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=65072 The glare from commonly used objects such as solar panels or electronics displays can be greatly reduced with the use of a newly developed transparent film black inspired by moth eyeballs. The new film — created by researchers at UC Irvine — can also aid in the main tangency of a clean surface, as it

Moth Eyeballs Inspire Glare-Dimming Gold-Coating For Solar Panels was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/08/moth-eyeballs-inspire-glare-dimming-gold-coating-solar-panels/feed/ 5 Strolling Through GE’s 1st & Only Ecomagination Center (CT Exclusive Video) http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/08/strolling-ges-1st-ecomagination-center-ct-exclusive-video/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/08/strolling-ges-1st-ecomagination-center-ct-exclusive-video/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:58:51 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=64999 During my January trip to the UAE for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week*, a few other bloggers and I got to walk through GE’s fresh and clean** (just-opened) ecomagination Center. Located in Masdar City, this is GE’s only ecomagination center to date, despite the program being massively well funded and hugely successful. During our stroll, we learned a

Strolling Through GE’s 1st & Only Ecomagination Center (CT Exclusive Video) was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/08/strolling-ges-1st-ecomagination-center-ct-exclusive-video/feed/ 0 New Super-Strong Ceramic Material Inspired By Mother-Of-Pearl Created http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/28/new-super-strong-ceramic-material-inspired-mother-pearl-created/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/28/new-super-strong-ceramic-material-inspired-mother-pearl-created/#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2014 05:00:14 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=64435 A new super-strong ceramic material — inspired by the mother-of-pearl created by the single-shelled marine mollusks known as abalones — has been created by a team of researchers led by the Laboratoire de Synthèse et Fonctionnalisation des Céramiques. This new “artificial mother-of-pearl” is considerably less prone to fracture than conventional ceramics, as well as being

New Super-Strong Ceramic Material Inspired By Mother-Of-Pearl Created was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/28/new-super-strong-ceramic-material-inspired-mother-pearl-created/feed/ 5 Energy-Producing Bionic Plants — Researchers Use Nanomaterials To Augment Plants http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/19/energy-producing-bionic-plants-researchers-use-nanomaterials-augment-plants/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/19/energy-producing-bionic-plants-researchers-use-nanomaterials-augment-plants/#comments Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:30:51 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=63976 Imagine human-designed ‘bionic’ plants with enhanced energy production that can perform valuable functions such environmental pollutant monitoring. Sort of like plant-based substitutes for conventional machines. Sounds a bit far-fetched? Well, apparently it’s not — in fact, it’s already a reality. Researchers from MIT have succeeded in substantially boosting the light-capturing abilities of various plants via

Energy-Producing Bionic Plants — Researchers Use Nanomaterials To Augment Plants was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/19/energy-producing-bionic-plants-researchers-use-nanomaterials-augment-plants/feed/ 0 ARPA-E Projects Attract More Than $625 Million In Private Funding http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/28/arpa-e-projects-attract-625-million-private-funding/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/28/arpa-e-projects-attract-625-million-private-funding/#comments Fri, 28 Feb 2014 12:40:51 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=63272 National Harbor, MD –The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) [this week] announced that the Agency’s innovative projects are making great strides towards transforming the way Americans use and produce energy. To date, 22 ARPA-E projects have attracted more than $625 million in private-sector follow-on funding after ARPA-E’s investment of approximately $95

ARPA-E Projects Attract More Than $625 Million In Private Funding was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/28/arpa-e-projects-attract-625-million-private-funding/feed/ 0 Biomimicry: Janine Benyus On “Learning To Live Gracefully On This Planet By Consciously Emulating Life’s Genius” http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/28/biomimicry-janine-benyus-learning-live-gracefully-planet-consciously-emulating-lifes-genius/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/28/biomimicry-janine-benyus-learning-live-gracefully-planet-consciously-emulating-lifes-genius/#comments Thu, 28 Nov 2013 21:35:29 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=59326 This week, I caught up a bit on the wonders of biomimicry. Biomimicry emulates the best of nature and biology with technology. The essentials of biomimicy are Ethos, Re-connect, and Emulate. Biomimicy offers consumers a way out of abusing the planet, and a way into a gracious interface and imitation of what works in nature. It offers

Biomimicry: Janine Benyus On “Learning To Live Gracefully On This Planet By Consciously Emulating Life’s Genius” was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/28/biomimicry-janine-benyus-learning-live-gracefully-planet-consciously-emulating-lifes-genius/feed/ 0 Seattle’s Renewable Flower Power; Solar-Powered Flower Installation Sonic Bloom http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/26/seattles-renewable-flower-power-solar-powered-flower-installation-sonic-bloom/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/26/seattles-renewable-flower-power-solar-powered-flower-installation-sonic-bloom/#comments Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:00:08 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=55574 The Pacific Science Center commissioned solar-powered artwork to be placed at Seattle Center’s festival grounds. Seattle artist Dan Corson revives “flower power” with his installation. Seattle nighttime wanderers can now bask in giant, light-infused, colorful flowers absorbing solar energy in the day and nocturnally reflecting light through efficient LEDs. The solar glow and shadows of

Seattle’s Renewable Flower Power; Solar-Powered Flower Installation Sonic Bloom was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/26/seattles-renewable-flower-power-solar-powered-flower-installation-sonic-bloom/feed/ 4 New Coating Inspired By The Pitcher Plant Turns Glass Into ‘Super-Glass’ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/07/new-coating-inspired-by-the-pitcher-plant-turns-glass-into-super-glass/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/07/new-coating-inspired-by-the-pitcher-plant-turns-glass-into-super-glass/#comments Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:44:59 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=54798 An incredibly slippery, self-cleaning “super-glass” can be created from ordinary glass with the application of a simple, transparent coating that was recently invented by researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The super-glass is so slippery that it even repels oil, and

New Coating Inspired By The Pitcher Plant Turns Glass Into ‘Super-Glass’ was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/07/new-coating-inspired-by-the-pitcher-plant-turns-glass-into-super-glass/feed/ 3 Floating Housing Project Concept For Uncertain Climate Future http://cleantechnica.com/2013/07/19/floating-housing-project-concept-for-uncertain-climate-future/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/07/19/floating-housing-project-concept-for-uncertain-climate-future/#comments Fri, 19 Jul 2013 10:41:13 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=54103 It’s no secret that our future as a society is likely to be a very rocky one. We simply aren’t switching to clean energy and reducing our meat and dairy consumption fast enough. As such, while trying to get global warming and climate change under control in the decades to come, we’re also going to

Floating Housing Project Concept For Uncertain Climate Future was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/07/19/floating-housing-project-concept-for-uncertain-climate-future/feed/ 2 Self-Assembling DNA Molecules As Scaffolding For Artificial Photosynthesis — Solar Energy Antenna Developed http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/24/self-assembling-dna-molecules-as-scaffolding-for-artificial-photosynthesis-solar-energy-antenna-developed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/24/self-assembling-dna-molecules-as-scaffolding-for-artificial-photosynthesis-solar-energy-antenna-developed/#comments Mon, 24 Jun 2013 08:30:49 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=53086 An interesting new take on an artificial photosynthesis system — one relying on self-assembling DNA molecules for scaffolding rather than conventional materials — has just been developed by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology. The new system is composed of self-assembling DNA molecules mixed with simple dye molecules — creating an effective means of gathering

Self-Assembling DNA Molecules As Scaffolding For Artificial Photosynthesis — Solar Energy Antenna Developed was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/24/self-assembling-dna-molecules-as-scaffolding-for-artificial-photosynthesis-solar-energy-antenna-developed/feed/ 1 Battery Made From Wood — Efficient, Long-Lasting, Environmentally Friendly Battery Developed http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/19/battery-made-from-wood-efficient-long-lasting-environmentally-friendly-battery-developed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/19/battery-made-from-wood-efficient-long-lasting-environmentally-friendly-battery-developed/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:50:07 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=53035 An environmentally friendly, efficient, and long-lasting battery created out of wood? Sounds too good to be true? Well it may not be — researchers say that they have now developed just such a battery. The tiny new battery — composed of a sliver of wood coated with tin — appears to have great potential, already

Battery Made From Wood — Efficient, Long-Lasting, Environmentally Friendly Battery Developed was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/19/battery-made-from-wood-efficient-long-lasting-environmentally-friendly-battery-developed/feed/ 10 Cattails As Building Insulation — New Research Brings To Light The Great Advantages Of The Material http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/14/cattails-as-building-insulation-new-research-brings-to-light-the-great-advantages-of-the-material/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/14/cattails-as-building-insulation-new-research-brings-to-light-the-great-advantages-of-the-material/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2013 07:00:43 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=52731 Cattails — Typha sp — are a very useful material, one that can be effectively employed for a variety of very different purposes. Throughout history, they have served as a nutritious food source, a source of downy material for bedding, a raw material for wickerwork, a means of cleaning wastewater at sewage treatment plants and

Cattails As Building Insulation — New Research Brings To Light The Great Advantages Of The Material was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/14/cattails-as-building-insulation-new-research-brings-to-light-the-great-advantages-of-the-material/feed/ 4 Product Review: Portable Solar Charger By WAKA WAKA POWER http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/04/portable-solar-charger-combines-lamp-and-phone-charging/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/04/portable-solar-charger-combines-lamp-and-phone-charging/#comments Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:20:04 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=52476 A company called Off-Grid Solutions has committed itself to eradicating energy poverty for 1.5 billion people worldwide by leveraging sales of its signature product, the WakaWaka Power portable solar charger that combines a mobile phone charger and lamp. On that account we agreed to take a WakaWaka Power out on a test run, and boy

Product Review: Portable Solar Charger By WAKA WAKA POWER was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/04/portable-solar-charger-combines-lamp-and-phone-charging/feed/ 2 Harvesting Electricity From Plants — Plant-Based Energy Generation http://cleantechnica.com/2013/05/11/harvesting-electricity-from-plants-plant-based-energy-generation/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/05/11/harvesting-electricity-from-plants-plant-based-energy-generation/#comments Sat, 11 May 2013 10:40:04 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=51605 Harvesting electricity directly from the best solar power plants in the world (photosynthetic plants)? Sound too good to be true? Well it may be a possibility in the near future, thanks to new research from the University of Georgia. Researchers there have developed a way to “interrupt” photosynthesis and redirect the electrons before they are

Harvesting Electricity From Plants — Plant-Based Energy Generation was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/05/11/harvesting-electricity-from-plants-plant-based-energy-generation/feed/ 10 “Artificial Leaf” Makes Clean Energy From Dirty Water http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/11/artificial-leaf-low-cost-solar-cell-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/11/artificial-leaf-low-cost-solar-cell-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:30:42 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=50577 What’s all this fuss about silly federal research projects? If one day in the not too distant future you can go to the dollar store, buy a thin, flat device the size of a playing card, dunk it in a quart of dirty bath water and use it to generate about 100 watts of electricity

“Artificial Leaf” Makes Clean Energy From Dirty Water was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/11/artificial-leaf-low-cost-solar-cell-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell/feed/ 8 MIT’s “Artifical Leaf” For Solar Energy Storage & Fuel Moves Forward http://cleantechnica.com/2013/03/06/mits-artifical-leaf-for-solar-energy-storage-fuel-moves-forward/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/03/06/mits-artifical-leaf-for-solar-energy-storage-fuel-moves-forward/#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:23:21 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=49183 Bringing the concept of an “artificial leaf” closer to reality, a team of researchers at MIT has published a detailed analysis of all the factors that could limit the efficiency of such a system. The new analysis lays out a roadmap for a research program to improve the efficiency of these systems, and could quickly

MIT’s “Artifical Leaf” For Solar Energy Storage & Fuel Moves Forward was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/03/06/mits-artifical-leaf-for-solar-energy-storage-fuel-moves-forward/feed/ 2 Apologies, & News Update http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/20/apologies-news-update/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/20/apologies-news-update/#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:47:40 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=48714 I made a big mistake yesterday when I posted about my first update of the Cleantech, Climate, & Other Green News Google Doc. Well, actually, I made a big mistake before that. I didn’t initially make the doc available to the public! Luckily, a bunch of people requested access to the doc, and I realized my mistake.

Apologies, & News Update was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/20/apologies-news-update/feed/ 2 Color-Changing Photonic Fibers Created, Inspired By The Bastard Hogberry http://cleantechnica.com/2013/01/31/color-changing-photonic-fibers-created-inspired-by-the-bastard-hogberry/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/01/31/color-changing-photonic-fibers-created-inspired-by-the-bastard-hogberry/#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:58:53 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=47785 A new type of flexible color-changing photonic fiber has been created by researchers at Harvard University and the University of Exeter. When it’s stretched, the fiber changes color, with the color varying from a deep red to a bright blue. The researchers think that the new fiber could be used for the creation of ‘smart’

Color-Changing Photonic Fibers Created, Inspired By The Bastard Hogberry was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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