biomimicry Archives - Education

1 Mar 2022

Fish built with plastic and heart cells swims for three months

by Claire Hughes | posted in: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

Bio-hybrid mechanism regrew muscles, paving way for bio-artificial hearts. A world of biological robots is just a heartbeat away. Artificial muscles based on human heart cells have just powered a swimming ‘fish’ for more than three months. Use this article … Continued

28 May 2021

How evolution engineered nature’s underwater acrobats

by Jennifer Chalmers | posted in: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

Swim like a sea lion, splash like a seal. This fascinating article discusses how biology and engineering have come together to learn about the evolution of seals. It is best suited to students in Years 4, 5, 7 and 10 … Continued

7 May 2021

Prosthetic fin for injured turtles

by Jennifer Chalmers | posted in: Biological Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

Innovative new prosthetic fin approved for trial on real, threatened turtles. This short article and video show an excellent example of how technology can be used to help nature. It demonstrates to students how problems can be solved using technology … Continued

9 Mar 2021

Advanced technology inspired by nature

by Jennifer Chalmers | posted in: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

If you know where to look, there’s almost no technological or design problem that nature hasn’t solved already. Amalyah Hart dives headfirst into the world of bio-inspiration. This extended article is best suited for Year 4-10 Biology, Chemistry and Physics … Continued

15 Jan 2021

What Colours Can You Hear?

by Jennifer Chalmers | posted in: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

Stephen Fleischfresser talks with the world’s first legally recognised cyborg, Neil Harbisson, about how he experiences the world. The article explains how Neil Harbisson found a connection between colour and other frequencies – like sound. His antenna allows him to … Continued

30 Nov 2020

Keep cool like a camel

by Deborah Devis | posted in: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

The two-layer thing may work for technology too. This fascinating article shows an efficient cooling technology that combines chemistry with the biology of camels in the desert. It is suitable for Year 6 Biology students learning about how camels survive … Continued

12 Nov 2020

Can objects bruise like we do?

by Jennifer Chalmers | posted in: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

Korean scientists continue the quest to make material that bruise possible. This article is well suited to Year 8 and 9 Biology students learning about the body's reaction and defence to outside environments and Year 10 Chemistry students who are … Continued

25 Aug 2020

Self-heal like a squid

by Jennifer Chalmers | posted in: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

A new material inspired by a natural protein found in squid. This short article is well suited to students in years 5, 8, and 10 to show them how scientific knowledge of materials and species adaptations can be applied to … Continued

27 May 2020

Do you see how I see?

by Jennifer Chalmers | posted in: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

New artificial eye design mimics the real thing. This resource combines an understanding of Biology, Chemistry and Physics to develop new robotic technology that could impact society in many ways in the future. Use the resource with students in years … Continued

14 May 2020

To climb, maybe robots need toes

by Jennifer Chalmers | posted in: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0

Researchers watch a gecko in action, studying their toes to help the design of robots. Lots of technology has mimicked biology for the best results and now, researchers are learning from the toes of a gecko to develop future robots. … Continued