Key Takeaways Animal attributes can help improve robot and drone design. Birds and insects provide the blueprints for drones that fly higher and quieter and dive even deeper. Manta rays offer the framework for more efficient underwater vehicles capable of long-term missions.Animals offer the ideal blueprints for improved robot and drone design. It's an evolving approach known as biomimicry architecture. Instead of reinventing the wheel with new drone designs, researchers look at what nature has already done. Scientists examine the skeletal structure, muscle makeup and neural networks of different animal species to help develop drones that fly more effectively or robots that have more fluid and natural movements.Here's a look at three technologies inspired by animal attributes.Silent Flight, Quick Turns, Deep Dives: The Bird BenefitsBirds are the obvious place to look for better flight functions, such as:Quieter FlightsOwls need to be able to hunt quietly. Their silent, aerodynamic wings make this possible; a low aspect ratio and large wingspan cause them to fly slower. The skeletal structure of the bird of prey's wings also contributes to virtually silent flight, with serrations on the edge of their wings and fringed feather vanes completing the effect, according to The Royal Society. Scientists could use these traits to create quieter drones for commercial use cases, such as aerial photography or package delivery. Near-silent drones could also improve battlefield reconnaissance.Quicker AdjustmentsDrones often struggle to fly in bad weather or hard winds, providing additional examples of biomimicry. Researchers at the école Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Laboratory of Intelligent Systems used synthetic wings to help create a drone that can take sharp turns and navigate urban spaces or areas where the wind can change rapidly. They drew inspiration from birds' ability to change the shape of their wings using their unique skeletal structure, as detailed in Nature Communications.Deeper DivesDiving birds inspired the creation of the Aquatic Micro Air Vehicle (AquaMAV) at the Aerial Robotics Laboratory at Imperial College London. The AquaMAV can dive directly into the water at high speeds, popping back up and expelling water through a jet to return to flight easily. Applications for this type of robot vary from collecting water samples to rescue missions and underwater exploration.Maximum Lift and Superior Steering: The Insect InsightsInsects provide the perfect guide to making microrobots fly and navigate more efficiently. For example, butterflies have large wingspans that allow for gliding through the sky with low drag rates, and their forewings produce maximum lift. These features could inspire similar wing structures in flying microrobots, enabling them to fly further and avoid mishaps quickly.A study from the University of Queensland's Queensland Brain Institute, meanwhile, indicated that honeybees have preferences for left- and right-handedness when in flight. According to Professor Mandyam Srinivasan, this could inform strategies for steering drone fleets.This isn't the first time Srinivasan's team has drawn inspiration from the natural world when it comes to aircraft development: The Queensland Brain Institute also released research demonstrating that birds don't crash in flight because they always veer right, which could have implications for automatic anti-crash systems in aircraft.Mastering the Deep: The Aquatic AdvantageWith just 10% of Earth's oceans explored, it's worth looking to nature for ways we can extend our reach and increase our undersea knowledge.The Northrop Grumman Manta Ray line of uncrewed underwater vehicles borrows form and function from its namesake fish. When it comes to form, the flat profile of mantra rays both reduces drag in the water and makes them harder to detect. When it comes to function, studies have shown that the median and/or paired fin travel mode used by rays provides propulsive efficiency of up to 89%, which is higher than that of other organisms, such as eels and trevally.Leveraging these traits allows the Northrop Grumman Manta Ray to make the most of both speed and power underwater. In addition, this fully autonomous vehicle can anchor to the seafloor and hibernate in a low-power state, making it ideal for long-duration, long-range missions without human logistics support.From Nature to New(er)Nature inspiring smart design is a natural fit. While humans have a knack for changing the world, sometimes we're better off paying attention to what's already here, especially when what's here has been working for millions of years. Sure, we could shut out the world and learn to make drones that turn on a dime and transition seamlessly from water to air — or, we could look at how birds navigate urban environments and how waterfowl dive and reemerge.Biomimicry architecture lets us work smarter, not harder, for better robot and drone results.Learn more about our people and life at Northrop Grumman, or check out our career opportunities to see how you can be a part of defining possible.

How Biomimicry Architecture Is Influencing Robot Design

What if we could make a computer chip out of mushrooms? While it may not be the first question that springs to mind around electronic enhancement, it turns out that using fungi as a functional substrate for integrated circuits (ICs) is actually a great idea.
Let's shine some light on these dark-loving, spore-bearing, fruity fungus bodies and how they might inspire new technology development.
Waste Not, Want Not
Electronic devices are useful and ubiquitous, but they're not meant to last. According to the WEEE Forum, approximately 5.3 billion mobile phones were trashed or stashed away in 2022, never to be used again. This is despite the fact that they contain valuable mineral components, such as gold, silver and palladium and many of their plastic parts could take more than 1,000 years to fully decompose.
If that isn't bad enough, consider that some smartphones and electronic devices have actually been built with "planned obsolescence" in mind. Have you ever noticed that, after a few years, your phone doesn't hold a charge as well or seems to be slowing down? You might think you've just been too hard on it, but these failing functions could be a feature, not a bug, designed to convince you it's time for an upgrade.
With companies now facing global lawsuits over this practice, it's more than a simple conspiracy theory. Whatever the underlying reason, however, the outcome is the same: phones, smartwatches, tablets and countless other devices are failing more often than ever, leading to a significant spike in electronic waste. As a result, interest is growing in alternatives capable of breaking down more quickly. That's where mushrooms come in.
From Mushrooms to MycelioTronics
Mushroom skin may offer a biodegradable alternative to computer chip creation. Cleverly dubbed "MycelioTronics" by its creators, manufactured mushroom chips have the dual advantage of great electrical conduction and the ability to break down after use.
While there have been previous attempts to make the move from plastic to mushroom-based ICs, the results were what you probably imagined when you first thought about mushroom skin electronics: bulky and ineffective. Researchers from Johannes Kepler University, however, have taken a more minimal approach to mushroom manufacturing.
Their fungus of choice was Ganoderma lucidum, which is found in temperate climates on dead hardwood trees. To create the skin, the research team inoculated moist beech wood shavings with fungi spores and then covered the spores with a polyethylene separator grid and stored the grids at 25 °C. Once sufficient skin growth occurred, the separator was ripped off and the mushroom skin peeled back from the beech wood.
Next came the drying and compression phase, followed by the physical vapor deposition of thin gold and copper layers on the skin, which were then laser ablated to create circuit pathways. The research yielded three skin phases: young, medium and mature. All three phases were stable up to 250 °C, making them a good base for processes such as soldering.
They also performed well in terms of current densities and specific resistance. For example, News-Medical.Net notes that the young skin demonstrated current densities up to 333 A mm-2, while the medium skin achieved a specific resistance of 54.3 ± 19.8 ohm-cm, making it comparable to current Li-ion battery separators. All told, the team produced mycelium-based batteries, a humidity and proximity sensor and a Bluetooth communication module.
We Are the Champignons
What do these mushroom moves mean for new technology development and computer chip design? First is the ability of these fungi to fundamentally break down after use. Once surface-mounted components were removed using heat guns or solder irons, the champignon-based circuit boards could be tossed into a household compost bin. Even better, they lost 93% of their dry mass within 11 days, and the remainder was indistinguishable from standard soil.
According to Physics World, mushroom skin ICs were also able to withstand approximately 2,000 bending cycles before metal films began to crack and warp, meaning they could be shaped multiple times to suit new applications. In addition, MycelioTronics come with the massive benefit of mushroom abundance. As some of the most persistent plants on the planet, fungi are capable of growing just about anywhere with minimal maintenance, and there's no shortage of fungible options worldwide. This means the material is not only bio-friendly but easy to find, making it a win-win scenario for the environment.
The caveat? For now, mushroom-molded chips are in the minority. It's one thing to demonstrate this process as a proof-of-concept — it's another to scale substrate operations from lab-made to manufacturing line volumes.
Still, the shift from plastic products to mushroom modalities is a step forward all around. While fungi frameworks may not be in the next device you buy, expect a significant sprout-up from this sustainable tech in the near future.

Are you interested in science and innovation? We are, too. Learn more about life at Northrop Grumman, and check out our career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.


Mushrooms May Lead to the Development of a Biodegradable Computer Chip

 Key Takeaways
 
 
 

    Biomimicry is the study of systems in nature to find solutions in human design.
    Aviation design can benefit from biomimicry — studying birds can help us make aircraft flight and design more efficient.
    AI can help tackle and refine the huge data sets generated by biomimicry research, building algorithms to mimic bird flight or analyzing wing shape, for example.

 
 
 
Who hasn't stared up at a hawk or vulture circling lazily in the sky and wondered how they stay aloft so long? Researchers are now able to tackle this question more systematically using biomimicry, the process of mirroring nature's systems to solve complex human problems.
 
Their goal is to develop artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that will allow gliders to mimic the flight behavior and endurance of birds and understand wing structural changes that facilitate silent flight, among other projects. Soon, AI in aviation will transform the types of missions that gliders perform and substantially reduce noise in flight.
 
 
 
Flying Like Birds
 
 
 
AI and biomimicry are already helping aviation researchers understand how gliders can function more efficiently. Gautam Reddy, a graduate student in physics, and a team of his colleagues at the University of California, San Diego, described their biomimicry research in a 2018 article in Nature.
 
 
 
The team equipped a two-meter-wingspan, radio-controlled glider with a flight controller and instruments that could measure vertical wind accelerations along the length of the glider and across its wings. Their working theory was that birds use similar sensory information to identify and navigate thermals.
 
 
 
Between 2015 and 2017, they conducted more than 500 flights near Poway, California, each one lasting 20 to 30 minutes. The aim was to train the glider in a concept called "reinforcement" to navigate thermals autonomously. They used their measurements to build a simple algorithm that would steer the glider toward zones of higher lift.
 
 
 
Another study published in the Flow, Turbulence and Combustion journal, also looked at soaring flight, studying behavior in white storks for clues to how the birds stay aloft so effortlessly. The researchers took data observed during stork flight and created a biomimetic computational model that analyzed the way the wing tip changed shape during flight. The study also looked closely at the airflow features around the wing tip feathers during flight. Similar work in pigeons could also aid wing design. For example, Popular Mechanics points to PigeonBot: a highly sophisticated bird-like robot that researchers are using to study how pigeons change the shape of their wings during flight to gain efficiency.
 
 
 
Taming Unpredictability
 
 
 
Though much valuable information can be gleaned from the concept of biomimicry, field studies can be problematic. Atmospheric conditions vary so much hour to hour and day to day, even in the same location, that building a robust AI algorithm for glider aviation using field measurements alone is quite challenging.
 
 
 
"AI algorithms require a lot of data," Reddy said. "One way to add fidelity to the algorithm would be to use numerical simulation and a process called model-based learning."
 
 
 
This model-based approach, which his team did not use, would involve "flying" a simulated glider repeatedly through a simulated atmospheric environment containing realistic thermals, convective currents and turbulence. Atmospheric data and the glider's response to those conditions could be collected on each simulated flight and then used to systematically update and refine the AI algorithm.
 
 
 
A better strategy, Reddy proposes, would be to extract visual and other sensor information from gliders.
 
 
 
"State-of-the-art gliders actually have better aerodynamic properties than birds," he said. "We can also use instruments to gather higher accuracy measurements of temperature, wind velocity, humidity, barometric pressure and other relevant data."
 
 
 
New Rules of Engagement
 
 
 
AI in aviation certainly offers tantalizing prospects.
 
 
 
"If we can come up with a glider that's as efficient as a bird, it could travel across continents," said Reddy. "That capability could be extremely useful for surveillance or remote sensing missions." The one limitation, he admitted, is that gliders rely on thermals, which are normally present during daylight hours only.
 
 
 
AI-controlled gliders could be a perfect complement to high-altitude surveillance systems, such as the U.S. Air Force's Global Hawk unmanned aircraft.
 
 
 
"Gliders are very small, unpowered and virtually silent," said Reddy. "So, they would not need to fly at high altitude. I think they could provide our military commanders with some very interesting options."
 
 
 
AI in the Cockpit and Beyond
 
 
 
Reddy suggests we try out AI as a navigational aid for pilots to enhance their abilities in the air.
 
 
 
"Pilots would still fly as before," he said, "but would use the AI algorithm to suggest the fastest, most efficient route to their destinations, taking advantage of the fastest-flowing streets (thermals) along the route."
 
 
 
AI and biomimicry could also aid other areas of in-flight performance, creating aircraft that fly silently, similar to an owl swooping on its prey. According to Popular Mechanics, owls can inspire quieter aircraft and turbine blades. Analysis of the wing's trailing edge has found that the orientation of the feathers changes the way the air flows as the owl flies.
 
 
 
In a similar way, hummingbird flight dynamics could help drone flight. For example, Penn State University describes novel modeling that's allowing researchers to simulate hummingbird flight, and Science Daily notes that the data from these studies could refine flying robots.
 
 
 
And it's not just birds. The Biomimicry Institute describes AI coupled with slime mold growth can revolutionize materials design. Along with studying bone growth, researchers are developing new approaches that could make aircraft lighter and use less fuel. Combining generative design, AI and 3D printing can even help us create lightweight components, such as cabin partitions that are strong but use less raw material.
 
These are just a few examples of how looking to AI and ecosystems can transform aviation systems. It's clear the future holds some exciting advancements in technology still to come, and nature may play a pivotal role in realizing those innovations.
 
 
 
Northrop Grumman is a leader in the development of autonomous aerial reconnaissance systems. If you'd like to learn more about what we do, check out our work in AI and machine learning.
 
 
 

AI in Aviation Gets a Lift From Biomimicry

A sticky string oozes out of a spigot and forms a customized structure. This scene could either describe the additive manufacturing process called 3D printing or how an arachnid spins its spider web to trap prey. Spider webs are marvels of sustainable engineering. They are intricate structures tailor-made for their environment from a nontoxic, biodegradable material that is remarkably strong, tough and elastic all at once. Scientists study spider webs to develop materials with similar properties for practical applications in medicine, industrial use and aerospace engineering. What Are Spider Webs Made Of? There are many different types of webs — for trapping prey, protecting eggs, and more — but they are all made of silk proteins. Specifically, they are made of glycine, alanine and serine, which are amino acids, a.k.a. the molecules that combine to form proteins. Webs vary in structure and material. Different species make various webs, but even a single spider produces a variety of silk. Some spider silk is sticky, while other silk is waterproof or optimized for the spider to walk on it. Along with versatility, engineers are interested in spider silk for many useful characteristics:   Strength: It is five times stronger than steel (by weight) and at least as strong as Kevlar.  Toughness: Although webs appear delicate, they are relatively difficult to damage.  Elasticity: It can stretch more than rubber and nylon, according to research published in the journal e-Polymers.  Flexibility: It is more flexible than nylon, per Discovery.  Stickiness: It is stickier than most tape, as Evolution News explains.  Temperature resilience: Webs can withstand high and low temperatures, according to e-Polymers.  Energy absorption: Its static load and impact resistance are better than those of other artificial and natural materials, according to e-Polymers.  Each of these properties is useful, but the unique combination makes spider silk especially intriguing and worth pursuing. Materials engineers can develop novel substances that are strong and flexible, but nobody does it as well as spiders. How Spiders Spin Webs The silk starts as a liquid called dope in the spider's glands. The glands secrete the dope and the spider pushes it through ducts, then through spigots on its spinnerets, which are silk-spinning organs located on its rear abdomen. Similar to the way a 3D printer squeezes plastic through a nozzle, the spider's spigot has a valve that controls the thickness and speed of the material, so it can customize the web. Finally, the spinnerets wind strands together to form a thread. It is a sophisticated process that humans have struggled to understand and replicate. Science journalist Katherine J. Wu, Ph.D., writes for the New York Times, "On their way out of a spider's bottom, the protein building blocks in silk, called spidroins, fold themselves and interlace, creating a highly organized structure without guidance from any outside force." There are many types of webs, such as draglines that spiders use to travel, pheromone-laced webs that females use to attract mates, and nursery webs for carrying spiderlings. But the best known is called an orb web. The spider excretes the thread into the air, and it catches on a nearby branch or some other anchor nearby, as HowStuffWorks explains. The first thread becomes a bridge that the spider travels across as it strategically releases threads to form a web. Some strands are sticky enough to trap prey. But the spider also weaves a few strands without an adhesive coating, so they can walk along the web without getting stuck themselves. Can Humans Use Spider Webs? People have been using the spider web directly and indirectly for thousands of years. For example, Ancient Greeks and Romans used balled-up webs as bandages, according to Discovery. Spider silk is particularly well suited for medicine because it is non-toxic and absorbable. It could also be a vector for drug delivery and a basis for 3D photodetectors for bioimaging. Scientists and engineers are exploring industrial applications such as cables, sensors, composite materials and soft robotics. Spider silk also has potential for aerospace, such as for developing shock-absorbing components for rocks or strong and flexible composite materials for aircraft and spacecraft. The possibilities are endless — armor, clothing, art and more. The trick is spiders don't make great livestock. It is challenging to extract silk from the spider's glands due to the complicated process of spinning silk threads and the fact that each spider has several glands that produce a variety of silk types. Plus, you can't put a bunch of spiders in a cage together; they are carnivorous animals that will eat each other. Scientists continue to discover what spider webs are made of and how they are made, while also exploring ways to create spider silk, for example, through genetic engineering or synthetic chemistry. Synthetic biology is an emerging research field that could provide a path for artificial spider silk. Until then, humans continue to be inspired by spiders and their ultra-strong sustainable designs. Are you interested in science and innovation? We are, too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.

A Closer Look at Nature's 3D-Printed Marvel: The Spider Web

Nature offers gifts every day, from horizon-stretching sunsets to blazing autumn foliage, zippy little hummingbirds and even funny cat videos. But nature can reveal more than what can be seen by the naked eye: when you look very closely, you can see nature rivaling — or surpassing — human efficiency. Observing these intricate processes, forms and characteristics can inspire and influence the systems that humans create and rely on.
Sometimes, nature's influences seem obvious, like how birds in flight led to the creation of airplanes. Other times, wellsprings of ideas can be surprising. The single-celled slime mold, for example, provides insight into how a city can make its roads better conduits for travel. Just as a routine sunset can occasionally reveal a new perspective, finding intelligent patterns and behaviors in biology can be a source of inspiration.
Biomimicry Borrows Nature's 3.8-Billion-Year-Old Secrets
Engineers and scientists study nature for answers because its systems may have already arrived at an answer. This look outward is known as biomimicry. It's a popular approach in architecture, environmental conservation, construction, robotics and other fields. With technology being able to design and manufacture all sorts of materials today, it's getting easier to shape solutions that were first shown to work in nature.
The nonprofit Biomimicry Institute sees the act of replicating nature as a way for humans to survive and thrive on a planet stressed by human-made climate change. While innovators look to biomimicry to create something efficient and effective, the people at the institute believe that, along the way, they also form a connection with the natural world.
As the president of the Biomimicry Institute told GreenBiz, "It's the process of looking at something like a leaf, and trying to figure out how to make a better solar cell. ... After 3.8 billion years, life has learned what works and what's appropriate on the planet, and right now that's what the people trying to redesign our world are looking for."
Nature in Action by Plane, Train or Whale Back
Perhaps the most famous example of nature's influence is the Wright brothers' observations of birds helping to get their Wright Flyer I in the air. Other aspiring aviators also looked to nature's winged creatures for inspiration, but it was the Wrights' study of birds gliding in circles that allowed them to master a critical aspect of flying. They got their plane to balance and turn in the air by warping the wings in opposite directions to change the amount of lift generated by each side, something they observed in vultures, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
Decades later, observing birds also helped to get another innovative mode of transportation not off the ground but to move faster — and more quietly. Reaching speeds of almost 200 miles per hour, the Shinkansen bullet train would make a sonic boom when it exited a tunnel. Innovators had been trying to work out how to eliminate it, and one birdwatching engineer noticed a potential parallel in a kingfisher's long beak that allows it to dive into water without making a splash. So, the Shinkansen underwent a facelift. With a 50-foot-long beak-shaped nose, the train no longer booms, faces less wind resistance and travels faster.
Solving problems isn't just for the birds, though. The water habits of the suckerfish inspired a scientific breakthrough in how to attach trackers to animals in the wild. Known for traveling oceans on the backs of whales, rays and sharks, suckerfish were observed not tightly grasping the skin to hang on, but rather hovering slightly above it. Their position forms a low-pressure zone that sucks the two close together, even on a full-speed ride. This realization inspired researchers to create a biomimetic sucker to track whales and other mammals that has better adhesion than previous trackers.
Looking at Slime Mold, Frog Tongues and More
The slime mold physarum polycephalum grows as a greenish-yellow system of veins that form a tubular network. The network transfers nutrients throughout the organism, first "foraging" broadly over an area, then refining the network to improve the movement of the nutrients.
Researchers believe this level of slime mold intelligence could provide a model for improving city planning, according to Phys.org. A University of Toronto research team created a computer model that simulates the way slime mold constructs its network. They based the model on metrics that speak to architects, city planners and others who might find these lessons from slime mold intelligence beneficial to their design process.
If that seems like a bit of a leap, consider how the super-fast tongues of frogs inspired Georgia Tech University researchers, according to CBS News. Amazed at how a frog's tongue could move fast and not lose its grip on flies and other tasty objects, the researchers are learning how frog saliva could lead to the development of new adhesives.
What else could scientists and engineers learn from nature? According to the Biomimicry Institute, the ladybug's compact and foldable wings can inspire aeronautics and space technology. The anglerfish's ability to manipulate light could lead to new ultra-black materials and bio-inspired lamps. And the spines of sloths can illustrate how to balance compression and tension.
Of course, the energy-saving and purposeful leisureliness of sloths themselves could improve the movements of robotics. That would be a study anyone could enjoy — slowly.
 
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From Slime Mold to Sloths: Biomimicry Inspires Real-World Applications

Biomimicry, the design and production of solutions modeled after nature, has resulted in many inventions that are helping solve human challenges. From Kingfisher birds inspiring the nose cap design of Shinkansen bullet trains to an optoelectronic camouflage system mimicking the skins of cephalopods, nature-based technologies allow humans to develop solutions that once seemed impossible. In recent years, engineers have developed recoverable or expendable autonomous systems that can imitate animal swarming to search unknown territories and perform complex tasks. These robotic platforms — drone swarms — can organize themselves into different flight patterns or spread out and work individually to complete a mission. Companies across multiple industries have found practical uses for swarming technology to help solve problems in challenging environments. Urban Combat Operations  Current mission operations in urban settings rely on dismounted soldiers who have limited situational awareness of their surroundings. City landscapes pose many disadvantages that can leave warfighters vulnerable and prevent them from being readily available when needed. Soldiers must have the ability to look around corners and see through doors to see if any threats, like insurgents, are lurking in a surprise trap. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program aims to improve small-unit urban combat operations through enhanced manned-unmanned teaming with over 250 small air and ground vehicles. OFFSET utilizes low-cost air and ground vehicles that can operate as a heterogeneous swarm to achieve diverse mission objectives. In the future, these swarming platforms will offer more eyes and ears on the battlefield to detect and combat threats. "Swarm technology enables warfighters to solve problems in complex environments more efficiently and creatively," said Erin Cherry, program manager in Emerging Capabilities Development at Northrop Grumman, a Swarm Systems Integrator for OFFSET. "Attritable, unmanned platforms collaborate as a swarm to help warfighters asymmetrically gain an understanding of a situation, make decisions, and take actions." OFFSET swarming technology is built on top of Robot Operating System. The vehicles used for swarming are the Uvify IFO-S air vehicles and the Aion R1 ground vehicles. Each vehicle has sensors and algorithms for behaviors like coordination, collision avoidance, and path planning. Intra-agent communication between platforms is enabled with a mesh network. OFFSET incorporates artificial intelligence and cooperative autonomy in a variety of ways from object recognition and classification to multi-agent swarm tactics. A human operator defines a high level plan with an advanced sketch-based user interface and then the swarm coordinates their actions to efficiently perform the mission. Space Exploration  Researchers at California State University Northridge are turning to much smaller, insect-like drone swarms for extraterrestrial applications. Essentially, these robots will be dropped into unexplored space territories to autonomously complete tasks they're given. The platforms will be able to problem solve in austere environments and adjust to challenges, like reorganizing their formations to accommodate the loss of any individual systems. These rover swarms are an alternative to larger space exploration programs. Their built-in redundancy allows for more opportunity to complete the mission, whereas if a larger rover encountered a fatal error, the mission would end in failure. The swarms can also self-assemble into smaller groups to survey more ground and accomplish multiple tasks, which would take a single rover significantly more time to perform. Expendable insect-like swarming systems will give researchers a better method to collect planetary data that could explain the many mysteries of the universe. Disaster Relief  As recent wildfires wreaked havoc across the globe, emergency responders are turning to swarming technology to help extinguish rampant fires and for search and rescue operations. Drone swarms use artificial intelligence and machine learning to map the spread of the fire with points of interest that need immediate attention. These systems will provide emergency responders with a situational awareness they have lacked due to hostile conditions of the environment. The autonomous vehicles can deliver real-time imagery to emergency responders that will equip them with the most accurate information. Swarms are able to maneuver through tight areas that reconnaissance helicopters cannot fit through and can fly low enough to capture accurate footage. These images can help identify potential openings for fire fighters who need to be on the ground fighting off flames. Some drone swarms are also equipped with thermal imaging cameras that can detect the location of stranded individuals through heavy smoke. Northrop Grumman and Carnegie Mellon University have recently partnered to sponsor five artificial intelligence research projects that seek to address different aspects of natural disaster response. The projects aim to improve small unmanned aerial vehicle rescue capabilities and human-machine communications. The initiative — titled Strategic, Operational and Tactical Emergency Recovery through Innovations in AI (SOTERIA) — supports the Department of Defense's push for better humanitarian aid and disaster relief technologies. Swarming technology allows emergency responders to better survey life-threatening areas at a further distance and respond quicker to the wildfire. These robotic platforms could potentially minimize the damage of natural disasters and reduce the cost of the overall rescue operation. The potential these drone swarms provide will change how we approach disaster relief, space exploration, and urban operations. With this technology, humans will be able to survey unknown territories and problem solve in a much more strategic way through advanced manned-unmanned teaming. Interested in working on the forefront of emerging capabilities? See how you can fit at Northrop Grumman.

Swarming Behavior: Drone Swarms to Survey Unknown Environments

Conservation researcher Peter Hodum can remember the difficulty of observing nesting seabirds. It was just over 20 years ago when Hodum and his peers would have to guess where a seabird's underground nest was before digging a hole. They would then stretch their arms into the burrow and grasp for signs of a dwelling. "You would get a feel for it," he recently recalled. "It wasn't perfect, but eventually, you could get good at it." But that's just a pleasant memory now, as technology has drastically changed the practices of animal conservation and Hodum's work. Hodum now uses infrared cameras to study seabird domesticity. He and other conservationists and scientists take advantage of a wide array of technology, including sensors, satellite tracking, camera traps and many other digital tools. These give them a far better understanding of wildlife ecology than they had only decades ago — or sometimes even less than a decade. These technologies offer detailed, nuanced perspectives of how animals survive, eat, reproduce and evade predatory threats. It's as if conservation went, almost overnight, from a black-and-white documentary with patchy audio to a surround-sound, 3D blockbuster film. For Hodum, an associate professor of biology and environmental policy at Puget Sound University, the technology isn't just something to marvel at — it delivers unparalleled insights in real time. "It has transformed how we're doing seabird work," he said. Species Under Threat Hodum and other conservationists approach their work with an urgency that tries to match two primary threats to wildlife: climate change and poaching. "We're in the midst of an extinction crisis. We're seeing more loss of species than any other time, other than a few extinction events in the Paleolithic era," said Martha Hoopes, a professor of biological sciences at Mount Holyoke College. The World Economic Forum recently observed that "whether on land, in the air, or in the water, plants and animals large and small are struggling." Indeed, the World Wildlife Fund reports that wildlife populations have plummeted by 94% since 1970 in the tropical sub-regions of the Americas, while the U.N. says more than one million species of animals and plants around the world face extinction. "In the U.S., we forget about food and security," Hoopes said. "Grocery stores are well-stocked, and the thought is there is always food available. But that's not true everywhere else. Food is scarce, and you have to eat what you can. And there's poaching for parts of animals like tusks and nails." Poaching will be difficult to curb, she said, until perceptions of its value change. "When something becomes rare and embargoed, the more interesting it becomes," Hoopes pointed out. Nearly 6,000 different species of animals and plants have been seized between 1999 and 2018, with nearly every country in the world playing a role in the illicit trade of wildlife, according to a 2020 U.N. report on the trafficking of protected species. Meanwhile, wildlife that can escape poaching and gaming have nowhere to turn on a warming planet. "The way we're changing the climate [â€¦] leads to evolutionary changes," Hoopes said. "We're seeing organisms in different places. Their main threat is fragmentation, habitat loss and invasive species." A "Wow" Moment Years ago, Hodum attended a British Antarctic Survey conference on the albatross and petrel and was amazed by a 3D-graphic presentation on the migration of those seabirds. "I thought, 'Wow. This is a seminal moment,'" he recalled. The presentation combined the scientific angle of the birds' travel patterns with an arresting visual that mapped out the seascape. "When you see it that way, it gives you a very good understanding of birds and what they're capable of." That was a precursor of things to come. Hodum, who also works for the nonprofit conservation outfit Oikonos, focuses on studying and preserving seabirds off the Pacific Ocean coastline of Washington state as well as the Juan Ferné¡ndez Islands in Chile. Since that "wow" moment, he has been able to expand the scope of his work and understand wildlife ecology in greater detail because of evolving technology. "It allows us to address conservation questions we couldn't address 25 to 30 years ago," he said. "People coming into the field now, they're more digitally native and the technology is more established, so it's hard to have that perspective of how groundbreaking it is." Tracking How Seabirds Eat, Dive and Travel Hodum and his colleagues no longer have to dig a hole and poke around with their hands to feel for a seabird's nest. They now carefully extend an infrared camera probe into a burrow. The small, unobtrusive camera, affixed to a flexible tube, can observe an adult, chick or egg without disturbing the natural rhythms of the seabird. Satellite tracking has even revealed where birds forage for food. "We didn't know before," Hodum said. "We had suspicions, but we didn't know if certain birds were actually representative of an area." Geographic information system (GIS) technology, which powers tracking devices, helps researchers see where the birds travel, providing details that can be overlaid on a map with locations of fisheries. Conservationists can see if seabirds are going to hot-spot areas and how they are foraging. The tracking sensors themselves are a further source of wonderment for Hodum. Time-depth recorders gauge the depth of water as a function of time, which is used as a means to study the birds' diving behavior. "It characterizes the dive profiles," Hodum said, "which opens up all sorts of questions. When they get to these foraging grounds, how long are their dives? How deep? And do they immediately go low or slowly? All of this ties back to conservation, and gaining an understanding of foraging gives us an understanding of how they're feeding and interacting with fisheries and how they're surviving in certain environments." In Chile, Oikonos deployed camera traps in seabird colonies to not only record the movements of poachers — information the local park service uses for enforcement — but also the presence or absence of the birds. Analytics shortens the time needed to review the visuals of the camera traps as well as the sounds of audio recorders that are left in the field for months at a time. Animal Conservation Advancements The vast number of technologies and how they are used are plentiful enough to fill the pages of a long-form scientific journal. For example, several projects attempt to identify animals through artificial intelligence. According to Conservation International, a collaborative program sits in Google Cloud and combines machine learning expertise with the knowledge of conservation groups. The program, known as Wildlife Insights, recognizes 614 different species with more than eight million images supplied by member organizations — a repository that's expected to grow. Initial identification accuracy ranges from 80% to 98%, depending on image quality and the distinctiveness of the species. Northrop Grumman employees are leading several projects that are helping scientists monitor, understand, and protect Earth's wildlife and ecosystems. The projects incorporate technological and conservation know-how to help sea turtles, polar bears and Hawaiian crows. One such program has as many as 40 employees using off-the-shelf, modern technology solutions to better monitor the reefs of the Chesapeake Bay in a bid to preserve a threatened oyster population. Hodum still uses a notebook and other manual tools in his animal conservation work — but despite his continued love for the old-fashioned, he's excited about the promise that new technology holds for his field. "Technological capacity has allowed us to be more efficient and effective in collecting data," he said. "And the tools for collecting data in the field will only become better, more refined, and more affordable and accessible." Are you interested in all things related to technology? We are, too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.

Just Ask a Seabird: Technology Boosts Animal Conservation Initiatives

While technology may seem to be moving away from nature, scientists are researching biomimicry architecture — looking at the animal world for inspiration on drone and robot design. By observing traits like skeletal structure and muscle and neural networks from different animal species as examples of biomimicry blueprints, scientists could model technology after nature to develop drones that fly more effectively or robots that have more fluid and natural movements. Three types of creatures are leading the way in influencing how drones and robots will navigate the future. Birds When it comes to applying animal biology to drone creation, the best place to look is in the air. Birds are influencing the way drones fly for obvious reasons, but also because special traits result in unique flight methods for different types of birds. For example, owls need to be able to hunt quietly. Their silent, aerodynamic wings make this possible; a low aspect ratio and large wingspan causes them to fly slower. The skeletal structure of the bird of prey's wings also contributes to virtually silent flight, with serrations on the edge of their wings and fringed feather vanes completing the effect, according to the Royal Society. Scientists could use these traits to create quieter drones for use in public spaces — delivery drones, for example — according to Seeker. Birds have also influenced the way drones can fly in bad weather or hard winds, providing additional examples of biomimicry. Researchers at the é‰cole Polytechnique Fé©dé©rale de Lausanne Laboratory of Intelligent Systems used synthetic wings to help create a drone that can take sharp turns and navigate urban spaces or areas where the wind can change rapidly. They drew inspiration from birds' ability to change the shape of their wings using their unique skeletal structure, according to Seeker. Even waterfowl are getting the biomimicry treatment. Diving birds inspired the creation of the Aquatic Micro Air Vehicle (AquaMAV) at the Aerial Robotics Laboratory at Imperial College London. The AquaMAV can dive directly into the water at high speeds, popping back up and expelling water through a jet to return to flight easily. Applications for this type of robot vary from collecting water samples to rescue missions and underwater exploration, according to Seeker. Insects When it comes to making microrobots fly and navigate more efficiently, insects provide the perfect guide. Butterflies have large wingspans that allow for gliding through the sky with low drag rates, and their forewings produce maximum lift. These features could inspire similar wing structures in flying microrobots, enabling them to fly further and avoid mishaps quickly, according to the Royal Society. Recently, a study from the University of Queensland's Queensland Brain Institute indicated that honeybees have preferences for left- and right-handedness when in flight. According to Professor Mandyam Srinivasan, this could inform strategies for steering drone fleets. This isn't the first time Srinivasan and his team have drawn inspiration from the natural world when it comes to aircraft development. Last year, they released a study that proved birds don't crash in flight because they always veer right, which could have implications for automatic anti-crash systems in aircraft, according to The University of Queensland, Australia. Reptiles Other researchers, like Professor Robert J. Full from the University of California Berkley Poly-Pedal Lab, focus on animal body structures to develop biomechanics. Full's team focuses on features big and small to figure out what traits serve animals best and how to re-create them in robots. For example, the natural world provided the team with inspiration for an autonomous amphibious robot that can travel underwater, a robot that can climb walls like a gecko and more. The Future of Drones The pace of technology's advancement depends on researchers figuring out new ways to make machines more efficient and adaptable. The best examples of those traits come from nature and can be tapped into through biomimicry architecture. If current trends are maintained, we may come to a point where the things that make animals unique are the same things that make drones and robots astounding.

Biomimicry Architecture is Influencing Robot Design

Who among us hasn't stared up at a hawk or a vulture circling lazily in the sky and wondered how they stay aloft so long? Or wondered how sky-darkening flocks of migrating birds can travel thousands of miles so quickly and so effortlessly? Researchers are now able to tackle these questions more systematically using biomimicry, the process of imitating nature's systems to solve complex human problems. Their goal is to develop an artificial intelligence algorithm that will allow gliders — either piloted or autonomous sailplanes — to mimic the flight behavior and endurance of birds. Soon, AI in aviation will transform the types of missions that gliders perform. Gliding Like Birds Popular Mechanics has documented the fact that birds use updrafts (zones of rising air created by topographical features such as mountains and cliffs) and thermals (rising columns of warm air) to stay aloft for extended periods of time. How they identify and navigate these zones of rising air — which form, disintegrate and shift constantly in three-dimensional space — is not well understood. Experienced glider pilots typically use visual cues from lofty cumulus clouds (often fueled by thermals) and warmer, darker areas of terrain to discover the presence of thermals. Field Training Gautam Reddy, a graduate student in physics, and a team of his colleagues at the University of California, San Diego, have studied these questions and reported their findings in a recent issue of Nature magazine. They equipped a two-meter-wingspan, radio-controlled glider with a flight controller and instruments that could measure vertical wind accelerations along the length of the glider and across its wings. Their working theory was that birds use similar sensory information to identify and navigate thermals. Between 2015 and 2017, they conducted more than 500 flights near Poway, Calif., each one lasting 20 to 30 minutes. The goal was to train the glider in a concept called "reinforcement" to navigate thermals autonomously. They used their measurements to build a simple algorithm that would steer the glider toward zones of higher lift. Taming Unpredictability Unfortunately, explained Reddy, atmospheric conditions vary so much hour to hour and day to day, even in the same location, that building a robust AI algorithm for glider aviation using field measurements alone is quite challenging. "AI algorithms require a lot of data," he said. "One way to add fidelity to the algorithm would be to use numerical simulation and a process called model-based learning." This approach, which his team did not use, would involve "flying" a simulated glider repeatedly through a simulated atmospheric environment containing realistic thermals, convective currents and turbulence. Atmospheric data and the glider's response to those conditions could be collected on each simulated flight, then used to systematically update and refine the AI algorithm. Reddy is not sure, however, if biomimicry or trying to learn from birds is the best approach for building an effective AI algorithm for gliders. "We see birds navigating thermals, but we're really not sure what they are sensing or feeling as they fly," he said. Data From Gliders A better strategy, Reddy proposes, would be to extract visual and other sensor information from gliders themselves. "State-of-the-art gliders actually have better aerodynamic properties than birds," he said. "We can also use instruments to gather higher accuracy measurements of temperature, wind velocity, humidity, barometric pressure and other relevant data." AI in the Cockpit Before turning glider controls over to AI algorithms, however, Reddy suggests that we first try out AI as a navigational aid for pilots, the same way we use Google Maps today while driving. "A pilot would still fly his sailplane as before," he said, "but he would use the AI algorithm to suggest the fastest, most efficient route to his destination, taking advantage of the fastest-flowing streets (thermals) along the route." New Rules of Engagement AI in aviation offers some tantalizing prospects. "If we can come up with a glider that's as efficient as a bird, it could travel across continents," said Reddy. "That capability could be extremely useful for surveillance or remote sensing missions." The one limitation, he admitted, is that gliders rely on thermals, which are normally present during daylight hours only. Nonetheless, AI-controlled gliders could be a perfect complement to high-altitude surveillance systems such as the U.S. Air Force's Global Hawk unmanned aircraft. "Gliders are very small, unpowered and virtually silent," said Reddy. "So they would not need to fly at high altitude. I think they could provide our military commanders with some very interesting options." Northrop Grumman is a leader in the development of autonomous aerial reconnaissance systems. If you'd like to explore opportunities to help your career soar, check out our Careers page. 

Biomimicry Gives a Lift to AI in Aviation

 Basic biometric securities are now commonplace — smartphone users expect the protection offered by fingerprint scans when they unlock their device, while higher-security access points have begun reliably using iris scanning to authenticate users and reduce the risk of compromise. But this is just the beginning; the human body has a host of unique biological identifiers that could both enhance security and reduce personal access inconvenience. Here's a look at the new frontiers of personal cybersecurity utilizing biometrics.  Facial Recognition  This type of biometric solution is gaining ground thanks in part to reports that Apple's next iPhone will use 3-D cameras to capture user facial features, allowing both device access and purchasing permissions. As noted by The Independent, trials of facial recognition software are currently underway in the Brisbane airport — travelers simply "enroll" their passport, boarding card and an image of their face during the check-in process and need only look into a specialized camera to pass through security. Facial recognition is built on a simple premise: by combining the unique profile of an individual face with highly accurate cameras, both security and convenience are enhanced.  Walk Tall  Another area of biometric development is walking pattern or "gait" identification, which uses cameras to capture the unique movements of different people. It makes sense; everyone has their own particular way of getting from place to place, and with the right camera technology, it's entirely possible to identify these patterns. According to New Scientist, in fact, researchers from the Technical University in Germany have already developed a more advanced version of the technique that can use additional information — such as the shadows on clothing — to produce more accurate results.  Talk the Talk  No surprise that Google biometrics make this list. Engadget reports that the tech giant's Alphabet spinoff is working on a project called "Abacus," which would allow devices to be unlocked with a continually updated "trust score" based on user location, speech patterns, vocal recognition and typing habits. It's a catch-all cybersecurity defense mechanism, but already questions have been raised about how data will be collected and used and how trust scores could be impacted if, for example, users are injured or experience some kind of major life event that changes usual habits.  Can't Beat 'Em  Then there's work by MasterCard and Canadian biometrics company Nymi, which is developing a wristband that authenticates users by referencing data related to their heartbeat. Using near-field communication technology, the wristband allows users to make MasterCard purchases at any Tap and Go enabled terminal by first authenticating their heartbeat data — according to VentureBeat, they've already completed a successful test in the wild.  To The Future!  And there's more where that came from. Companies have already developed military-grade biometric systems capable of capturing fingerprint and IRIS data on the move and checking this data against U.S Immigration and Customs databases and the U.K.'s law enforcement biometric protocol, IDENT1. Next steps include the commercialization of DNA-based techniques, which offer maximum reliability and security. As noted by CIO, these techniques are the "holy grail" of biometric security but since they require organic samples such as hair, nails, bodily fluids or cheek swabs, there's work to be done in accelerating and streamlining these processes before they become widely available.  Critical Concerns?  No discussion of biometric techniques is complete without mentioning long-term security. As noted by BetaNews, hackers have already managed to crack fingerprint scanners; Jan Krissler circumvented Touch ID the day after it was released. There's also the problem of ongoing compromise. While losing a password is inconvenient, users can reclaim accounts and change login details after this kind of breach. But what happens if hackers manage to duplicate unique data such as user gait, facial features or heartbeat signatures? How can hacked users reclaim their identity when security protocols say they're not who they claim to be?  Despite valid concerns, biometrics remains a red-hot development field as companies look for ways to increase security, improve convenience and fundamentally alter the way human beings interact with technology.

Biometrics: From Fingerprints to New Frontiers

Suckerfish are the latest biomimicry models for technology inspired by nature. Also known as remoras, these hitchhiking fish travel the world's oceans clamped to the backs of whales, rays and sharks, among other sea creatures. In a recent paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology, researchers explained how they used a webcam to hitchhike alongside a blue whale. The footage showed that suckerfish cruise with ease, using fluid dynamics to stay attached. This finding and further exploration of the suckerfish sucker anatomy has inspired new technology that could help with attaching sensors and other gear to rough surfaces. Blue Whale Cam Photobomb Shows Suckerfish Action The authors of the blue whale research project said that, in addition to following the marine giants as they cruised the world oceans, the monitors also caught plenty of suckerfish activity. This comment inspired suckerfish researcher Brooke Flammang to take a closer look. CBC Radio's Quirks & Quarks reports what Flammang saw in the footage — that instead of being tightly attached, the suckerfish could skim across the whale's body by staying close to its surface. Instead of clamping to the whale's skin, the sucker hovered slightly above the skin, forming a low-pressure zone that sucks the fish in close. Even at full speed on the whales, the remoras were quite mobile and still stuck around for the ride. Suckerfish Ride Dynamics Inspire New Technology With a keen interest in bio-inspired robotics and comparative biomechanics, Flammang's lab was able to create mathematical models to mimic the suckerfish's apparently effortless ride. In the Journal of Experimental Biology paper, Flammang's team describes how they created a 3D, mathematical model of the blue whale surface. Using computational fluid dynamics analysis, they found that the remoras were skimming around in a boundary layer cushion of slow-moving water next to the whale skin. Apparently, the suckerfish were using physics to find the best places to hitch a ride, using the least effort to stay close to the whale and then benefiting from the Venturi effect - the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted space, like a section of a pipe - to move around. As the researchers note, having this knowledge could help marine biologists place biosensors that stay attached for longer than 24 hours. Sucker Anatomy Informs Adhesive Sensor Design In addition to helping conservationists place sensors and track blue whales and other marine mammals more effectively, suckerfish may also hold other clues for technology inspired by nature. A 2020 paper shows what contributes to suckerfish adhesive tenacity. In the journal Matter, scientists published the first report describing the anatomy of the remora's sucker disk in detail. They found that the lip is key to successful attachment on rough surfaces, such as whale and shark skin. Vertically aligned collagen fibers in the layers underneath the rim give the edge of the suction cup enough elasticity to maximize contact with rough surfaces. When the researchers created a biomimetic sucker based on their findings, the new technology showed 62.5% better adhesion. Biomimicry Continues to Drive Innovation Biomimicry, or technology inspired by nature, is a growing area of science and engineering. Instead of developing man-made solutions to problems, engineers look at systems within nature that have already solved the problem in question. For example, think about Velcro. This technology was inspired by the way certain plant seeds stick tightly to clothing. New technology inspired by nature has also delivered uncrushable design and enhanced sensor capabilities inspired by beetles and bird flight. Inspired by the whale-surfing remoras, Flammang and her lab are developing biomimetic suckers that can cope with rough surfaces. Smithsonian Magazine notes that the bioengineers have created a sucker device based on remora anatomical features that shows 60% greater adhesion, especially on rough skin. Maybe suckerfish hold the clue to tracking larger marine creatures through the world's oceans. Are you interested in science and innovation? We are, too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.

Biomimicry: How Suckerfish Are Inspiring New Technology

Key Takeaways  There are 1,700 species of water striders, all using surface tension to skip over water without sinking. Microscopic hairs on water striders' legs trap tiny air bubbles to keep them afloat. The bugs can move at the equivalent of a person swimming at speeds of more than 400 miles per hour.Gracefully springing from the water's surface as if it were a trampoline, water striders snatch and eat prey that fall into the water, such as mosquitoes, larvae and dragonflies. Bugs that can walk on water appear to defy the laws of nature. Scientists have studied these nimble insects to find out the tiniest details of their anatomy, which could help engineers design robots, nonstick coating and boats.How to Walk on WaterThey look like spiders (and a few spiders can walk on water), but when you see a bug skating on the surface of the water, it is likely an insect called Gerridae. These bugs have many nicknames: pond skimmers, Jesus bugs, skaters and more. They are commonly found on the surface of calm or slow-moving water such as ponds, vernal pools and marshes. There are 1,700 species of water striders, according to Nature. Three key factors allow bugs to walk on water: surface tension, weight distribution and their long, hairy legs.Surface TensionWater striders take advantage of water's chemical properties, which allow them to skip across a liquid's surface without sinking. According to the United States Geological Survey, surface tension occurs because water molecules are attracted to each other. At the point where water meets air, the water molecules cling to each other even more than usual and form stronger bonds. In this way, the outer layer of water molecules create a membrane that water striders can use to their advantage.Weight DistributionSurface tension is a good start, but there are only certain kinds of bugs that can walk on water. Water striders' anatomy perfectly distributes their body weight so they can stay buoyant on the surface. Like all insects, they have six legs. Their legs are long and wide, so their body weight is spread out among the legs without putting too much pressure on the water at any one point, according to ScienceNews for Students.Water striders use two short front legs to attack and eat prey, while their middle pair of legs act as paddles to push them along the water, and the long back pair provides power, steering and brakes, according to Nature.HairStrangely, one of the big reasons these bugs don't sink is that they have microscopic hairs on their legs. While other lightweight bugs float on the surface, they get wet, and end up stuck in the water. But the hair on water striders' legs trap tiny air bubbles that allow the bugs to hover on the water's surface without getting wet, according to Sciencing. When people or other animals swim, water exerts resistance on the moving body, causing fluid drag that slows them down. But on the water's surface, bugs can move incredibly quickly — the equivalent of a person swimming at speeds of more than 400 miles per hour, according to Nature.What Can We Learn From Bugs That Can Walk on Water?These bugs have evolved to thrive in their environment at the water's surface. We won't be able to walk on water anytime soon, but according to the National Wildlife Federation, scientists are studying the legs of water striders to learn how to engineer materials that easily repel water and help objects move faster over water. Many inventions have been inspired by Earth's biodiversity, and water striders could influence the next generation of inventors.Engineers who design racing yachts, for example, need to overcome the fluid drag that occurs when water flows past the hull of the boat. One way to increase a yacht's speed, according to The Conversation, is by using hydrofoils — small underwater wings — that lift the yacht to the water's surface. Just like the water striders' long, hairy legs, hydrofoils reduce the surface area and the volume of the boat that's underwater; this reduces drag and allows it to sail faster.Several research groups around the world have studied water striders to develop various non-stick coatings. For example, scientists in China built an unmanned ship for oil spill cleanup. To build the boat, they engineered a mesh material based on the water striders' legs, which repel water and reduce drag, according to a paper published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.Roboticists have also been inspired by water striders, AZO Robotics explains. Replicating the way water striders balance on water surface could help improve the stability, speed and efficiency of robotic boats that are used to monitor the environment.Discover how technology for conservation (T4C) leverage the best of today's technologies to enhance and scale conservation programs, including projects for preserving water quality and enhancing species survival.

When the Ordinary Does the Extraordinary: Bugs That Can Walk on Water

Biomimicry — the practice of looking to nature for engineering solutions — may have a new source of inspiration. A flightless insect called the diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus) resists squashing, crushing and crunching like no other bug. Tests show it can withstand being run over by a car. Its durable exoskeleton, made of unique layers, joints and shapes, helps it survive much longer than other beetles, despite its inability to fly. Whereas most beetles live a few weeks, a diabolical ironclad's life may span seven or eight years, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Recent research published in the journal Nature used microscope images, 3D-printed models and computer simulations to investigate and partly explain the beetle's armor. Its tough exterior could influence biomimicry applications, including indestructible composite materials for aircraft and buildings. Team member Pablo Zavattieri, professor of civil engineering at Purdue University, says the scientific analysis "shows that we may be able to shift from using strong, brittle materials to ones that can be both strong and tough by dissipating energy as they break. That's what nature has enabled the diabolical ironclad beetle to do." Flat and Flightless The inch-long beetle, which lives in the deserts of western North America, has developed several characteristics that make it invincible. For starters, its body is flat and low to the ground, as opposed to rounded, according to Science News. It's also flightless. That may seem like a disadvantage because the beetle can't fly away from predators. But a part of the shell that other flying beetles use to protect their delicate wings — known as the elytra — has stayed with the ironclad beetle, even as it adapted to life on the ground. Now, it offers them a different kind of defense. The hard, armor-like structures fused together at the center of the beetle's back at a line called a suture that runs the length of the insect's abdomen. Using advanced imaging technology, including an electron microscope, the scientists viewed a cross-section of this suture. The unique joint resembled two interlocking puzzle pieces — one piece with a bulbous lobe and the other with a lobe-shaped dent. In experiments, the scientists put this part of the shell into a tiny vise and then used an electron microscope to image the results when they put pressure on it. "Lo and behold, the interface at that suture, the jigsaw puzzle we're talking about, did not fail," University of California Irvine materials scientist David Kisailus told Wired. The shell itself is also very strong, made of layers of fibrous material. When put under pressure, the material slightly fractures, spreading the force across the shell, which mitigates catastrophic failure. Compression tests revealed that the beetle could withstand around 39,000 times its own body weight. Biomimicry The scientists didn't stop at studying the unique strength of this beetle. They also explored how their observations could be applied to developing ultra-strong materials. In the Purdue University press release, team member David Restrepo, who worked on this project as a postdoctoral researcher in Zavattieri's group and is now an assistant professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said that a big challenge in engineering involves joining different materials without reducing their ability to support loads. "The diabolical ironclad beetle has strategies to circumvent these limitations," Restrepo said. One example comes from turbines that power aircraft. There, metal and composite materials are connected with a fastener that not only adds weight but could cause stress that leads to fractures or corrosion. Researchers at the University of California Irvine built a carbon fiber composite fastener inspired by the diabolical ironclad beetle's puzzle-shaped suture. Through load testing, researchers found that this fastener was just as strong as a standard aerospace fastener but significantly tougher. Kisailus told Wired that the diabolical ironclad beetle deserves more study. It's still unclear what biological components, including proteins, make up the exoskeleton. "We don't know what those proteins are," says Kisailus. "Are they hyperelastic?" he says. The answers could lead to indestructible aircraft that, unlike the beetle, can take to the skies to avoid enemies. 

Biomimicry Looks to the Uncrushable Diabolical Ironclad Beetle for Inspiration

Camouflage probably makes you think of dazzle ships or zebra stripes — visual hacks for invisibility to outwit potential predators. But there's also the type of cloaking technology that stops more than visual detection. For example, moths have developed high-tech ways to confuse bat sonar, simply by using wing architecture as a stealth coating to absorb sound waves. Moths are locked in an age-old struggle for survival; even under cover of darkness, it's risky for them to fly at dusk and nighttime, as they're still visible to their top predator, bats. Equipped with biosonar, bats use echolocation to send out high-pitched acoustic radar to bounce back from potential meals in flight. Bat sonar helps them locate and identify moths for dinner on the move. But as recent research shows, moths are far from defenseless: Cloaking technology in the moth armory includes jamming signals, distraction and silencing. It's All About the Wing Moth wings are covered in overlapping layers of tiny scales. They're not just there for decoration, though; some patterns act as visual camouflage to blend into surroundings or mimic a bigger, tougher predator. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) used a method called acoustic topography to show that the repeating patterns of scales on the moth wings give an important advantage to moths in flight. The research team used empirical and mathematical analysis to show that earless moth species possess sound-absorbent wings. Projecting sound waves at the wings, a team of researchers discovered the echoes bouncing were much quieter, as New Scientist describes. In other words, when the bat sonar hits the moth wings, the echo coming back to the bat is much fainter and harder to detect — and it doesn't translate as a meal, either. Another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pnas.org/content/1PNAS paper in 2018 used laser Doppler vibrometry and 3D modeling to show that the way the moth wing scales are arranged covers the whole bat echolocation range. According to Science News, the wings absorb around 50% of the bat sonar energy hitting the wing. Quieter echoes and low signal volume translate as not worth hunting to the bat, and the result is one safe moth. Moth Ears: Jamming Signals and Redirection Another way to evade capture is to listen for trouble. Some moth species have developed "ears" capable of detecting bat sonar. PBS Nova describes that, when they hear the echolocation pings, the moths simply swerve to avoid being caught. Some moths will also loudly announce how toxic they are. Jamming bat echolocation with a burst of ultrasound also helps. A 2015 PNAS research paper showed that moths would send out jamming signals in response to playback of bat squeaks in the lab. According to Nature, some species manage this by rubbing their genitals against their abdomens. Lunar moths use their long, twisty tails to throw bats off the chase. University of Washington researchers found that both the length and the twist were essential in distorting the echolocation signals, pushing the echo center away from the vulnerable body area. Bats were confused by the return signal and often chased after a moth that wasn't where they thought it was. Biomimicry for Aircraft Stealth Commenting on the recent PNAS paper in New Scientist, researchers compare the moth acoustic camouflage to the cloaking technology used to keep stealth bombers hidden from enemy radar. Stealth technology, also known as low observable technology, is a key tool in military applications that renders personnel and equipment invisible to radar, infrared, visual and other observation spectra. Altering the shape of an aircraft wing or fuselage, for instance, or applying a special coating can distort reflection or absorb the electromagnetic radiation from radar, similar to the way that the scales on the moth wing provide acoustic camouflage. Biomimicry, or copying examples of how nature solves a visibility issue, often inspires new stealth technology. Maybe one day, moth scales could be deflecting more than just bat sonar. Are you interested in all things related to technology? We are, too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.

How Moth Cloaking That Outwits Bat Sonar Is Inspiring Stealth Technology

Climbing is a specialized skill that uses numerous abilities and techniques. Scientists working in robotics and materials research often gain inspiration from the natural world, using biomimicry as a guide, and this is especially true when looking to mimic climbing. For instance, animals that climb trees, and other animals with cool abilities, can be frequent sources of inspiration. So, what is it about climbing that inspires the research, and what is it that these innovators look for?There's interplay between speed, safety and efficiency, according to a research study published in the Royal Society that analyzes how climbing animals climb. For us, the activity makes use of our strength and the coordination of our hands and feet to propel us up a rock face, tree or other environmental hurdle. Similarly, many animals use their paws and feet, but others rely on special adaptations or techniques that are less common.Bears (but Not Polar Bears)Bears are pretty good climbers — so good, in fact, that the usual advice is not to try climbing a tree to escape them. They have strong curved claws in each foot that can grip tree bark, and as the National Parks Service points out, they're quite agile. However, unlike other animals that climb trees, they descend back legs first. They also use human-like techniques for rock climbing: scaling up with three points of contact and pushing with powerful leg muscles.While grizzlies can also climb, it's useful to know that polar bears cannot — though trees are scarce in the Arctic might not offer much of an escape route anyway.Mountain GoatsMountain goats, especially ibex species, are incredibly nimble in their mountain habitats. They use this amazing climbing skill to seek out nutritious herbs and lick salts from rock faces.Like other even-toed ungulates, they have two horned toes on each foot that are curved and can splay out. The outer edge is quite hard and comprises a horn wall, whereas the center is softer. The ability to widen the toes and deform the soles to match terrain surfaces gives these goats an incredible grip on near-vertical terrain.Hermit CrabsAsk anyone who has ever managed a tank of hermit crabs, and they'll tell you they have a few cool abilities that help them escape. They scale vertical tank walls with apparent ease, and tank enrichment should include hermit crab climbing toys. Anything with protrusions is scalable to these animals, including tree bark, coral walls and each other. The crabs use the tips of their legs to climb, a behavior that's employed in foraging, asserting dominance and escaping from predators.Hermit crabs have inspired robotics researchers to build pipe-climbing maintenance robots that can scurry along pipework in petrochemical plants to keep an eye out for ductwork failures.GeckosGeckos have serious climbing skills in all orientations, being able to cling to vertical surfaces just by the stickiness of their feet. They've inspired numerous biomimicry projects, including robotic climbers that can scale any surface and multi-use adhesive tape for spaceflights.What helps geckos climb is the tiny hairs, or setae, on their feet that generate weak but effective van der Waals charges between molecules. These grippers cling to surfaces without leaving a trace, last a lifetime and are inspiring the development of strong, reusable adhesives by NASA for space missions.OctopusesOctopuses also have interesting climbing abilities. Though they need to be in water to use them, their strong and flexible tentacles help them climb vertical surfaces. These tentacles are equipped with numerous strong and powerful suckers that can latch onto smooth surfaces, according to the New England Aquarium. Octopuses can even escape their tanks unless precautions are taken. Fortunately, a simple layer of Astroturf can stop their suckers from clinging, and aquarists usually also use a heavy or lockable lid on their enclosures to stop them from wandering.Their climbing ability has also inspired robotics. Biomimicry researchers have developed robots with features based on the tentacle and sucker anatomy of octopuses' limbs that can grip and manipulate irregular objects, including ladder rungs and rough walls.As biologists continue to study the amazing abilities of wildlife, engineers will undoubtedly identify even more qualities from the animal kingdom worth mimicking through human technology.Are you interested in science and innovation? We are too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.

Biomimicry Inspiration From Five Animals That Climb Trees and More

Artists aren't the only ones inspired by nature. Biomimicry is becoming increasingly prevalent in our society as we seek innovative solutions to ever more complex problems. The world is looking to plants, insects, birds and more for answers, with incredible results.HookedWhether it's on Earth or in space, it's hard to think of a world without Velcro. The granddaddy of biomimicry, the invention of Velcro was the result of a walk in the woods. George De Mestral was walking his dog in 1948 when inspiration struck. De Mestral noticed his dog, along with his clothing, was covered with cockleburs that were quite pesky to remove. The burrs were covered in tiny hooks, which were a perfect complement to the loops found in clothing or fur.Louder Than a BulletJapanese engineers solved their need for speed with the design of a new bullet train, but were facing another challenge. As trains were getting faster, reaching speeds exceeding 186 mph, they were getting so loud it was disturbing passengers, nearby residents and the wildlife. Living up to their name, the faster bullet trains generated a loud boom upon exiting a tunnel.The solution came in the shape of the kingfisher's elegant beak. The kingfisher catches fish by diving beak-first without making a splash. By mimicking the kingfisher's beak, the engineers made the bullet train more aerodynamic. The new bullet trains were quieter and more energy efficient.The Cities of the FutureClimate change, increased population density, finite resources and the need for sustainable energy: Those needs are driving architectural innovation today and will be even more pressing in 2050 and beyond. Architects are looking to biomimicry to develop the buildings of the future.In unassuming mounds, termites live in luxury. These efficient builders use a series of holes and chimneys for a natural central air conditioning system. The outer holes are heated by the sun during the day, which pushes the cooler interior air downward through the chimneys to supply oxygen to the queen and her subjects. Carbon dioxide travels up and the cycle repeats each day. The Eastgate Centre in Zimbabwe uses these same principles to stay cool and reduce energy costs.Termite-inspired buildings, skyscrapers made of bones and seashells and renewable energy from wind turbines shaped by the fins of humpback whales could be commonplace in the cities of the future.Get a GripNASA is looking to the gecko to create an adhesive that can stand up to the harsh conditions of space. Geckos easily traverse walls on feet covered with tiny hairs called setae. The hairs keep on sticking even after a lifetime of use, which is especially useful when you have a limited amount of surface area aboard a spacecraft.Gecko grippers don't require a second surface, like Velcro, and there's no messy residue left behind. With their powerful gripping capability, astronauts could use the adhesive to capture satellites in need of repair or pave the way for robots that live on the exterior of a spacecraft.All-seeing EyeThe mantis shrimp became an internet darling due, in part, for its supersonic punching abilities and hyperspectral vision. Researchers are already developing body armor and football helmets inspired by the mantis shrimp.The creature could also revolutionize how we see cancer and visualize brain activity. Unlike humans, mantis shrimps can detect polarized light. Cancerous tissue reflects polarized light differently than healthy tissue. Doctors could use technology adapted from mantis shrimp to better detect tumors. Over time, polarized light cameras could be small enough to be incorporated in smartphones empowering people to monitor their health. Farming, food processing and object detection could also benefit from the hyperspectral vision of mantis shrimp.Soaring in the SkyFalcons are among nature's most efficient predators, so it makes sense that airplanes may take inspiration from these avian hunters. The peregrine falcon has sleek angles and an ability to contour its wings close to its body to become more aerodynamic and reduce any resistance. As a result, the peregrine falcon can reach speeds of over 200 mph as it dives for its prey. While the U.S. Air Force's B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber had a classified development, it wouldn't be too surprising if prime contractor Northrop Grumman's designers and engineers were inspired by falcons or other birds of prey.The pressure of natural selection has produced a plethora of biological solutions to the various challenges of survival. It is only natural, then, that biomimicry will play an even greater part in the future of technology.

Nature's Splendor: 5 Ways Biomimicry Led to Innovation

The glow of a firefly as dusk arrives on a warm, summer night. The radiant tentacles of a comb jellyfish deep in the dark abyss of the ocean. The bright rhythm of a glowworm as it moves through a humid cave. What do all of these organisms have in common? Their illuminating shades of green, blue and yellow are almost magical and present a beautiful spectacle on both land and sea, creating bright, vivid sparks of color. This natural phenomenon ignites a keen sense of discovery for researchers, technologists and scientists. This magic, known as bioluminescence, or the production and emission of light by a living organism, is most often seen with underwater living organisms, but bioluminescence can also play a role in national security. Where do the two intersect? Recent technological innovations have begun to challenge the idea of bioluminescence, transforming how we light our world for purposes such as medical research and military defense, as well as other key applications. One application for bioluminescence that could impact defense is being explored through Northrop Grumman's Target Acquisition via Bioluminescence and Snapping Shrimp (TABSS) project. TABSS, which was recently awarded to Northrop Grumman by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technology Office under its Persistent Aquatic Living Sensors (PALS) program, is taking expertise in sensing to a new level, using undersea organisms to assist in passively detecting adversarial manned and unmanned vessels in the water. Northrop Grumman will use both light and sound emitted from different underwater organisms such as plankton, jellyfish, and snapping shrimp to develop sensing hardware with increased sensitivity to achieve greater sensing range and endurance. It will also apply machine learning to recognize behavioral patterns in the marine environment to help differentiate target vessels from confounders such as dolphins, sharks and whales. Biological sensors occupy every maritime environment and have evolved multi-modal sensing capabilities across many domains - electrical, acoustic, optical (including in extremely low light), magnetic and chemical, and even tactile structures, in the form of mechanoreceptors, that are capable of detecting and triangulating minute changes in fluid flow as well as sources of disturbances. The TABSS Project, which involves advancing optical and acoustic sensing technologies as well as radar-related processing and machine learning, adds a new dimension to sensing that has not been fully explored and has application from undersea to space. Northrop Grumman's team includes expertise with undersea biological organisms from Duke University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The University of Memphis and Coda Octopus Colmek will contribute to the design, model and build of the sensing system. Northrop Grumman will apply its knowledge in undersea systems, Side-Looking Sonar, seabed warfare, submarine warfare and counter-unmanned underwater vehicle warfare. To learn more about the PALS program, click here.

Lighting Up the World with Bioluminescence Technology

Although glow-in-the-dark rocks have been studied since the 19th century and eagerly sought by black light-wielding rock hounds on the shores of the Great Lakes, the chemistry behind this natural phenomenon wasn't fully understood for some time.  However, a recent study published in the Chemistry of Materials journal unravels the secrets of glowing rocks and could drive materials research to create a better synthetic material. These findings could help to improve safety aids, such as emergency signage that can light up without a power supply. What Makes a Rock Glow? First off, what makes a rock glow in the dark? The First Law of Thermodynamics gives a clue to this natural phenomenon. In a closed system, energy cannot be created or destroyed — it can only be changed. For example, running an electric current through the filament in an incandescent light bulb will heat it till it glows to produce light. In the case of a glowing rock, no heat is involved and the natural phenomenon that is seen is described as cold light, or luminescence. According to The Gem Society, a lot of rocks and gemstones luminesce when activated under UV light. This feature is often used to distinguish between natural and lab-grown gems. The rocks luminesce as electrons within them react to an energy change. Unlike bioluminescence, where light comes from a biological enzymatic reaction, rock luminescence is more like the aurora borealis phenomenon, where charged particles from the sun react with atoms in the atmosphere to activate their electrons. When gems glow under UV light, it is the light itself that activates elements within the rock, pushing the electrons into a higher energy state. When these activated electrons decay back to a lower energy level, they release photons as light. Smashing Rocks for Science Hackmanite, or tenebrescent sodalite, was first described in the 1800s as a rock that glows pink when broken or placed in the dark. It also gives off a characteristic glow when activated by UV light. Atlas Obscura describes how members of the rock hounding community take to the shores of the Great Lakes after dusk, armed with UV flashlights to search out syenite rocks rich in sodalite. Collectors know that there is a spectrum among samples of the rock; there are some that glow and others that don't, with the glow ranging from fiery orange to a soft pink. This luminescence also varies in how long it lasts. As Science Alert describes, to find out why there is a difference in duration, an international team of researchers analyzed samples of hackmanite gathered from Canada, Greenland, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Using techniques such as spectrometry and X-ray diffraction, the team determined the composition of each sample to find out how each element contributed to the natural phenomenon. Deliberate Impurities in Synthetic Materials When the researchers compared the composition profiles for each of the hackmanite samples with luminescence, they found that the ratios of certain impurities in the rocks made a difference in how brightly they glowed. The ratios also explained how long the glow persisted after the rocks were activated. From the analysis, they found that there were two pairs of elements that directly correlated with the persistence of luminescence. In terms of chemical composition, hackmanite samples with more titanium relative to iron and more potassium relative to sulfur luminesced brighter and for longer. The important factor was the relative concentrations between each element pair. The research team concluded that abundance of one of the pair could quench excitation in the other and thus diminish luminescence. Taking a Cue From Nature Materials research often takes cues from natural phenomena like glowing rocks. Creating a new synthetic material is often easier if there's something in nature to copy. But first, you need to know what's behind the magical glow. For example, green fluorescent protein (GFP) is commonly used in lab studies to show activity within a cell. Since it can be switched on and off depending on certain intracellular activities, fluorescence microscopy will show not only that GFP is inside the cell but also where it is located. ScienceMag notes that studying new species of jellyfish is uncovering more powerful versions of GFP. The hackmanite findings showed how a natural impurity can influence how brightly a rock glows and for how long. With this new knowledge, tweaking the composition of new synthetic materials could help to create brighter and longer lasting emergency signage, for example. As the research team notes, studying nature can help us improve the performance of our copies.

Unraveling the Secret Glow of a Natural Phenomenon

Millions of people around the world have some form of sight or hearing loss, have no sense of smell or taste or have lost limbs, taking away their sense of touch. Fortunately, the science of senses is the most advanced it's ever been. Biotech researchers are developing methods that merge humans and machines in ways that could restore human abilities to hear, see, taste, smell and touch. From neuro-prosthetic limbs that mimic touch to bionic eyes and smart glasses that restore sights, the innovations could drastically improve the quality of life of people around the world. Touchy-Feely Some of the most advanced technology developed around the science of senses comes from the field of prosthetic limbs, where researchers are finding ways to connect tissue to metal. Systems called brain-machine interfaces literally wire robotic limbs to a person's nervous system. Two of the latest achievements were reported in July 2019 in the journal "Science Robotics." In the first, a team from the University of Utah connected a robotic hand and partial forearm to the remaining nerves in the man's arm. The man trained his brain to control the motion of the hand. At the same time, artificial zaps sent to the robotic hand were designed to mimic the skin's natural response patterns to touch. Remarkably, the man could more easily discriminate between small and large objects as well as soft and hard items while blindfolded and wearing headphones. Another team, based at the National University of Singapore, engineered flexible, electronic skin that contains artificial nerves that transmit signals 1,000 times faster than nerves in human skin. The skin is able to sense temperature, pressure and humidity and is also durable enough to function even if it is scratched or damaged. Say What?  Since the mid-1980s, a tiny electronic device called a cochlear implant has been providing the sense of sound to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, according to the National Institutes of Health. Part of the implant is surgically placed under the skin behind the ear, with another part attached in the same position externally. A third part is inserted inside the ear canal. Unlike a hearing aid that amplifies sound, a cochlear implant senses sounds and converts them into an electric signal that it uses to stimulate a person's auditory nerve. Even people who are profoundly deaf can learn to discern sounds as long as some fraction of their nerve still functions. But cochlear implants are not perfect. They are only capable of sensing and transmitting part of a sound wave's full audio spectrum, producing a sound that has a metallic quality. That can make it difficult to filter out background noise, such as a crowd conversations or traffic. In 2019, a team from the University of Greenwich in England reported on new research that improves upon this technology, reports MedicalXpress. It deconstructs sounds from the environment and then reconstructs them with 90% to 100% percent efficiency. This means patients will be able to better distinguish noises from background sounds. Oooh, That Smell Smell loss, called anosmia, affects about 5% of the general population, according to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. The condition may be the result of something temporary, such as a sinus infection or swelling or polyps in the nasal cavity or it could be the result of damage to the sensory nerves. Permanent loss of smell can impact daily enjoyment of life and even affect safety. The inability of smelling smoke or natural gas could put someone in harm's way. Although there is no proven therapy, researchers at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear have, for the first time, invented a device that stimulates different smells. Their technology, which they reported in 2018 in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, uses an array of tiny electrodes to send an electrical signal to the olfactory bulb, a structure in the brain involved in smell. In a small experiment, the scientists created different electrical stimulation in five patients, producing smells similar to onions and antiseptic as well as sour and fruity aromas. Although the innovation is still in the early stage, it demonstrates a possible path forward for a "cochlear implant for the nose," the scientists say. Tasty Treats Although smell is connected to taste, it's the receptor cells on the taste buds of a person's tongue that discern sweet, salty, sour, bitter or savory flavors. Medical procedures inside the mouth or ear can alter a person's taste, as can head trauma or ear infections, according to MedicineNet. Scientists have made a couple of attempts to solve the problem with technology. Back in 2013, a team from the National University of Singapore developed a taste simulator that used a kind of electronic tongue depressor to simulate taste sensations, New Scientist reported. Later, another team at City University of London invented a similar device called Taste Buddy that also stimulated taste buds to alter the flavor of foods, reported Digital Trends. Unfortunately, neither gadget went beyond the research lab. For now, solutions may lie within human DNA. Lynnette McCluskey, a neurobiologist at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, and her team are investigating whether a protein called interleukin-1, or IL-1, secreted during an injury could help rebuild a person's sense of taste. The protein promotes inflammation and also helps regulate nerve growth. In 2018, she and her colleagues received grant money to study whether manipulating the proteins after an injury could help the nerves associated with taste recover faster, reports MedicalXpress. It could take a few more years to find out. See You Soon Worldwide, 36 million people are legally blind, according to Nature. Some biotechnological solutions, such as growing stem cells into those that can repair damage to the retina or using techniques from gene therapy to correct genetic defects, are showing promising results. But technology is also playing a big role. A bionic eye, called the Argus II, is a retinal prosthesis system that, since its development in early 2000, has restored some vision capabilities to more than 300 people. It's reserved for people who have no vision or almost no vision due to a genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa. Patients undergo surgery, in which a tiny electronic device is attached to the person's retina. It's connected wirelessly to a pair of smart glasses that have a portable video-processing unit that project images from the outside world onto the person's retina. Clinical trials done in 2015 showed that visual function improved in 90% of people wearing the prosthesis and that 80% of patients reported improved quality of life, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Advances in technology are allowing machines to merge with the human body. Coupled with our growing ability to correct genetic defects or repair cellular damage, the science of senses is moving into the future. One day all humans could move through the world with all five of their senses intact — seeing the unseen, hearing the unheard and tasting, touching and smelling new wonders that evoke all of the pleasures of being alive.

5 Innovations From the Science of Senses

There is something enchanting about bioluminescence — visible light produced by living creatures. You've seen this exhibited in fireflies, or microscopic plankton that sometimes light up nighttime ocean surf from within. Bioluminescence is like a soft, cool fire that you can hold in your hand.  Yet, this rather magical natural phenomenon can have practical uses that are drawing new attention to bioluminescence technology. From offering a power-free light source to its role in medical research and military defense, this technology has a host of potential applications. Putting Living Lights to Work Natural bioluminescence is a surprisingly widespread phenomenon. As Hakai Magazine reported, bioluminescence uses have been put to work for centuries. Coal miners, for example, used fireflies trapped in jars as safety lights for working in mines where any flame, as from a candle or lantern, might trigger an explosion. Today, pioneers on the frontier where art meets technology are putting bioluminescence to work. Wired featured one Dutch designer who has put her background in biology to work by developing lamps that are illuminated by glowing bacteria. Meanwhile, according to New Scientist, a French company is marketing bioluminescent lighting for store windows — electric lights in Paris store windows are restricted by law during the late evening and early morning hours, providing an incentive for store owners to invest in electricity-free bioluminescent window lighting. Oceans Deeply noted that bioluminescence is also used to detect cancer cells. Cells are injected with a bioluminescence-producing chemical called luciferase. If a glow is detected, it shows that dying cancer cells are releasing the chemical, letting researchers determine whether a therapy is effective at killing cancer cells. Bioluminescence Uses in Technology and Defense Bioluminscence has played an interesting roll in defense history. For example, during World War II, per Hakai Magazine, Japanese troops used light from tiny dried crustaceans they called "sea fireflies" to read maps and documents. Not only did the lights require no batteries, the light was subtle enough to avoid detection by the enemy. Bioluminescence technology has been used to detect enemy submarines, going back almost exactly one hundred years. According to Atlas Obscura, the lookouts on a British ship cruising off the coast of Spain in November 1918 (during the waning days of World War I) noticed a large underwater glow. Something was triggering bioluminescence in the water, and the British sailors suspected that it might be a German submarine. They attacked, and their suspicion proved correct. Silent Service, Secret History During the Cold War, attention turned to the potential of bioluminescence for detecting Soviet Russian submarines. In 1966, according to Atlas Obscura, a Navy report called attention to ocean bioluminescence as "'sadly neglected for a long time.'" The long neglect was ending, especially since bioluminescence could now be detected from space. However, Atlas Obscura explained that harnessing bioluminescence to detect submarines proved challenging, and the problem was still unsolved when the Cold War ended. The focus of defense policy shifted to counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, and antisubmarine warfare (ASW) became a less immediate concern. However, shifting global geopolitics are again bringing the threat posed by submarines to the fore. In 2016 The New York Times reported on Adm. Mark Ferguson's statement that Russia's submarine patrols had increased by 50 percent. Although ASW research is highly classified, it is a good guess that bioluminescence technology is again being explored for clues that might reveal potential enemy submarines, along with all the other defense missions that this technology can support.

Faerie Lights: A Bright Future for Bioluminescence Technology

Even the most advanced "smart" technologies are only as intelligent as their algorithms allow. Yes, devices can now take our pulse, monitor our heartbeats and even respond to verbal commands, but they can't react to what's going on inside our heads. Yet. This is the promise of the brain-computer interface (BCI), a cognitive connection between human and machine that allows direct control over physical processes using nothing but our thoughts. And while there's no chance of connected individuals getting misclassified as computers by the Turing Test just yet, researchers in this brain-bridging battle have made significant strides over the past few years in blurring the lines between mental efforts and digitally enabled physical outcomes. Brain Connection Basics What exactly is BCI? A study from the Mayo Clinic explains: "Brain-computer interfaces acquire brain signals, analyze them and translate them into commands that are relayed to output devices that carry out desired actions." However, these interfaces don't leverage normal neuromuscular pathways, meaning users must master a new set of mental skills to operate BCI-controlled devices. There are two basic types of these devices: invasive and non-invasive. Invasive solutions require medical professionals to implant electrodes or other control devices directly into the human brain to connect with specific neural pathways. Non-invasive options typically use sensors on the head or neck to collect, record and interpret brain activity. Non-invasive technologies are already used in devices such as EEGs, MEGs and fMRIs. While invasive interfaces have the edge when it comes to accuracy and reliability, they also come with greater risk and higher costs. Non-invasive options are much simpler to use, but they can't deliver the same level of functional fidelity. That said, the lower bar for entry coupled with the falling costs of micro-scale technology has prompted many tech firms to invest significantly in hopes of getting in on the ground floor of brain-computer connections. Current Connective Capabilities In 2019, the Braingate project from Stanford University showed that BCI devices could allow tetraplegic patients to control commercially available tablet devices using only their minds. Meanwhile, more recent work from Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) made it possible for paralyzed patient Robert "Buz" Chmielewski to cut and serve his own food using two simultaneously controlled robot arms, as FreeThink reports. By implanting two sets of electrodes into Chmielewski's brain — one in each hemisphere — and augmenting them with AI, the teams were able to overcome previous limits of one-limb control offered by single-electrode setups. Worth noting: The road from initial connection to eventual precision wasn't quick or easy. While the implant surgery itself was performed in January 2019, it's taken Chmielewski two full years to gain the mental muscle required for mechanical mastery. Nonetheless, both projects show promise as a way for paralyzed or differently abled patients to regain some level of specific physical control. Mind the Gap Not surprisingly, the benefits of this connected brain technology are matched with potential drawbacks. Privacy is perhaps the most pressing.  As Harvard Business Review notes, the use of BCIs at scale introduces questions around who owns the data generated by human brains and what companies might do with this data once it's in their possession. Could companies compel workers to use non-invasive devices for workplace productivity monitoring? Connective compromise is also a potential risk. Consider a construction firm using advanced, non-invasive devices that allow staff to remotely and precisely control heavy machinery. What happens if hackers are able to hijack these BCIs and cause damage to people or property? Not only does this pose a significant safety risk, but it also creates a legal snafu when it comes to determining responsibility. Is the user at fault for failing to check the device, the manufacturer for not installing effective safeguards or the company for compelling staff to use BCIs? Operational bias is another cognitive concern. As Brookings notes, AI tools often come with built-in, unconscious bias tied to the type and volume of data used to train their foundational machine-learning algorithms. For example, AI hiring solutions have demonstrated a bias for specific candidates because the data they were fed lacked variety. In the brain-computer field, limited biometric data sets could result in device interfaces that are more difficult to use for some employees and easier for others, in turn impacting performance and potentially job security. The Future of Technical Telekinesis So, what's next for the brain-computer interface? First is increased mastery of "intentional control" — the ability of connected devices to map mental intentions to physical processes. As a recent Big Think article shares, ongoing work with BCI-outfitted mice has already shown a strong connection between the visual and anteromedial cortex, which corresponds to the parietal cortex in human brains. AI algorithms also need to work to help streamline the strengthening of the mental muscles required to convert thought into action. And before BCI tools really go mainstream, there's a need for substantial standardization and regulation around the data collected, used and stored by these devices. At scale, there's massive market opportunity here driven by truly smart devices connected directly to human brains, empowering users to complete everyday tasks — from turning on the lights to opening the garage door or activating the alarm system — with a single mental command. I think, therefore I can? It's fascinating food for thought.

I Think, Therefore I Can: Considering the Brain-Computer Interface

Very close to home is an alien world home to creatures that have evolved in unique ways to survive. There's a whole ecosystem that thrives on methane, for example. This is the deep sea, where scientific and technological advancements have paved the way for incredible discoveries.The Alien World Called EarthIn December 2016, researchers exploring hydrothermal vents at a depth of nearly two miles announced the discovery of six new species of animals. These creatures were living in a vent field dubbed Longqi, or Dragon's Breath, about 1,200 miles southeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.These vents serve as the heart of a thriving ecosystem. Through a series of chemical reactions, hydrothermal vents become hot spring playgrounds for organisms. Microbes feed off the methane and minerals spewed forth from the vents to serve as the fuel for much larger organisms. While we live in a world of sunlight, these creatures live in darkness, freezing temperatures and intense water pressure.Most famous of these deep sea creatures are the nightmare-inspired anglerfish and the blobfish, with the latter earning popular recognition as the "world's ugliest fish." The female anglerfish has an extended dorsal spine that hangs over its mouth and resembles a fishing pole. At the end of the spine is a piece of flesh containing glowing bacteria that the anglerfish uses as bait for unsuspecting prey. The blobfish gets its reputation because it's adapted to an environment where the pressure is up to 120 times greater than what we're used to on the surface, according to Smithsonian Magazine.Much like how deep space exploration unlocks the mysteries of the universe from its origins to its expansion, so too does deep sea exploration for our planet. From the depths of the ocean comes a better understanding of the beginning of life on Earth, dynamic geological changes and the effects of climate change. But deep sea exploration ultimately requiresA Deeper UnderstandingDespite the numerous discoveries of unknown species, sea exploration is very much in its infancy. To date, we've explored under 5 percent of the ocean, according to the National Ocean Service. That means 95 percent of all the water that covers the Earth, not just the deep sea, has yet to be explored.Considering how much of the world is water, it's not surprising that the ocean helps regulate temperature, shapes the weather and serves as the lifeblood for countless people — in the form of fishing and transportation — around the world. The weather pattern known as El Nié±o, which affects the North American winter and global weather, is the result of warmer-than-usual temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. NASA deploys space-based technology such the Northrop Grumman built Aqua and autonomous systems such as NASA Global Hawk to better understand the earth's oceans, water cycles and storms. But deep sea exploration is just as important and can also lead to better earthquake and tsunami prediction models. Meteorologists use tsunami buoys to detect changes in sea levels that may be caused by underwater earthquakes.Advancements in medicine can also be driven by the discovery of new organisms in the depths of the ocean. Cancer researchers already use the zebrafish, a tropical freshwater fish, as a model for research leading to new insights on tumor development. Deep sea creatures live in some of the harshest environments on Earth and understanding how they survive could potentially lead to new drugs or treatments.Our bodies, while resilient, can only dive so deep without some help. Luckily, that's where unmanned underwater exploration has proven invaluable in our exploration of the unknown.Exploring the UnknownThe discovery of six new species mentioned earlier was the result of researchers using a remotely operated vehicle to explore hydrothermal vents in 2011. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses Deep Discoverer, affectionately known as D2, to explore the mysteries of the sea at depths of up to four miles. D2 is equipped with high-definition cameras to reveal the deep in amazing clarity. Everything D2 records is uploaded to the internet, which means citizen scientists and researchers can aid in the scientific process from anywhere in the world.Even though the vessel itself is unmanned, people are at the heart of underwater exploration. Teams of researchers and engineers have developed STEM skills throughout their education to advance the science and develop the technology to reveal the ocean's mysteries. Without talented people, unmanned undersea exploration would be a guessing game.

Deep Sea Offers a Gateway to Deeper Understanding of Life

Sometime during the waning days of World War II or the years just after, humans accidentally introduced a brown tree snake population to the tiny Pacific island of Guam. The snakes, native to New Guinea and parts of Australia, probably had concealed themselves in military cargo delivered to the newly liberated island. The impact of the invasive snakes on the ecosystem of Guam was devastating. Lacking natural enemies, the snake population of the island has swelled to some 2 million, as Science Alert reports. Local bird populations had no natural defenses against the intruding snakes and were decimated — 10 of 12 species have vanished. Loss of the birds, which helped to scatter seeds, has in turn drastically reduced new forest growth. And just in case a plague of snakes was not enough, Reptiles magazine notes that the absence of birds has allowed spiders to proliferate unchecked on Guam. Along with environmental devastation have come other ill effects, such as frequent electricity outages due to snakes climbing power poles. But Guam's ongoing struggle against the brown tree snake recently led to an unexpected discovery: a previously unknown way that snakes can climb trees or other cylindrical objects. A Different Way to Slither Scientists thought they understood snake locomotion pretty well. According to Science magazine, in the last hundred years, observers had seen and defined four basic ways that snakes get around — not counting accidental transport by humans. These four well-known methods of slithering are lateral undulation, rectilinear locomotion, sidewinding and concertina (so named, per Smithsonian Magazine, for a cousin of the accordion). Wildlife biologists looking for ways to provide birds with safe places to nest tried mounting nesting boxes atop lengths of exhaust-duct piping turned upright. A brown tree snake, they reasoned, would not be able to climb the large, smooth-sided cylinders. But the snakes kept getting to the birds. As National Geographic notes, the research team captured an attack on time-lapse video. The video showed a brown tree snake wrapping its body around a cylinder like a lasso, then using the loop of the "lasso" to scooch its way up the cylinder. "We just kind of looked at each other in shock," research team member Tom Seibert told National Geographic. "I mean, this wasn't something a snake was supposed to be able to do." What a Hungry Snake Can Do For a brown tree snake, as SciTech Daily reports, lasso locomotion is no easy task. Progress is slow. The snakes often slip back in their upward progress; they breathe hard and must frequently pause to rest. "Even though they can climb using this mode, it is pushing them to the limits," says Bruce Jayne, another member of the research team. But while it may push them to their limits, the snakes succeed in using lasso locomotion to climb poles or other cylinders, including trees, which they couldn't climb using their four previously known means of movement. This demonstrates two fundamental truths. One is that a meal is a powerful motivator. The other is that we know less about the evolution of snakes than we thought we did. We now know that snakes, or at least brown tree snakes, have five means of locomotion — not just the four we previously knew about. But, as National Geographic notes, we don't yet know whether other snakes share this capability or if the brown tree snake uses this method in its natural habitat. It will take many years of research to answer the new questions that have now been raised about the evolution of snakes. And, as usually happens with science, every answer we find is likely to raise more questions.  For now, the good news for Guam's remaining birds is that the discovery of lasso locomotion will help us design more effective barriers to keep snakes from climbing up to attack their nests. It may even help to prevent snakes from causing electricity outages after lassoing their way up power poles.

Brown Tree Snake Invasion Powered by Lasso Locomotion

 Metamaterials mark a step forward in engineering. Humans have been manipulating light and soundwaves with natural materials for years. A pair of lenses, for instance, uses a natural material — glass — to control the propagation of light waves. Lens designers do so by precisely controlling the shape of the lens. These new materials take that idea a step further by inventing new materials not found in nature to further manipulate light and sound. With a metamaterial, you could conceivably make a lens that's completely flat and achieves the same effect because it controls the wave propagation. Such materials can even conceivably be used to create an invisibility cloak. At the moment, since these materials are still pretty new, scientists and engineers are still looking for applications. A team of engineers at the University of Colorado at Boulder, for instance, has recently developed a metamaterial that can cool objects even under direct sunlight without using any energy or water. The idea behind metamaterials has been around for some time. Russian physicist Victor Veselago first advanced the concept in 1967. In 1999, physicist David R. Smith and a group of researchers realized the idea. Now, 18 years later, we are seeing an explosion of use cases around the concept. In this article, we'll look at acoustic metamaterials.Acoustics Metamaterials can manipulate sound waves just like they manipulate light waves. For instance, a researcher at Duke University has demonstrated a device called a Sound Propagator made of plastic acoustic metamaterials that can bend sounds into shapes, such as the letter A. One possible application for this technology is wireless charging; operating at 40 kHz (outside the range of human hearing), the Propagator could send inaudible soundwaves to a device that can then be converted into electric energy. Steven Cummer, a professor at the electrical and computer engineering department for Duke University, said that the primary commercial applications for acoustic metamaterials are for soundproofing. While those applications might seem limited to recording studios and the like, Cummer pointed out that cars, planes and helicopters, among other items can use soundproofing. Typically, engineers use fiberglass for soundproofing or sound absorption, which Cummer said works "reasonably well." But such materials will likely provide a higher level of soundproofing. "There are plenty of applications where if it worked a little bit better, it would be useful, even if it cost more," Cummer said. "If we have full control over being able to build some complicated structure, surely we can do better than just packing some fiberglass together." Nicholas Xuanlai Fang, a researcher at MIT, said that for autos, acoustic applications can provide more soundproofing at a lighter weight. He said that ideally, a car could weigh up to 40% lighter with such materials and provide the same quiet ride as a heavier car.How They're Made Compared to lightwaves, soundwaves are very large, which makes the process of creating acoustic materials much easier. Cummer said that the rule of thumb for such materials is that they need to be 10X smaller than the wavelength they're manipulating. A lightwave is around 500 nanometers (for comparison's sake, an atom is around 1 nanometer). A soundwave can be measured in centimeters, which means that such materials can be measured in millimeters or even centimeters. While optical metamaterials need to be micro-engineered with equipment similar to that used to create silicon chips, acoustic materials can be created using 3D printers. As for the material, Cummer said plastic is great for prototyping, but often in applications like nautical engineering, metals are required. Industrial use for such materials is still a few years out, Cummer said. Presently, scientists like himself are testing the materials for real-world conditions. These all present intriguing possibilities. For those looking to be optimistic about the future, the continuing development of metamaterials represent a solid foundation.

The Light and Sound of Metamaterials

Key Takeaways Dinoflagellates or phytoplankton are microalgae that create their own inner light from a chemical reaction between oxygen and a photoprotein called luciferin. Bioluminescence is used by deep sea creatures to both attract prey and repel predators. Bioluminescence isn't dangerous but if associated with a red tide algae bloom, neurotoxins are released.A natural phenomenon lit up the beaches of Southern California in May 2020. Following a red tide during the day, the crashing surf turned into a light show once the sun set. The waves crested, each breaker speckled with a frothy sparkle of blue-green light as it broke onto the sand. Delighting surfers and environmental scientists alike, the bioluminescent waves were a remarkable display of nature in action.What Makes Bioluminescent Waves?The glowing waves off the beaches in California were created by bioluminescence within millions of tiny dinoflagellates. As the waves moved toward the shore and broke, the churning action jostled the single-cell marine animals into action. According to Smithsonian Magazine, scientists think that bioluminescence in these tiny creatures evolved as a way of scaring off predators with a quick flash of light.While people were taking videos of the waves rolling onto the beaches, others were experiencing it firsthand while surfing. This turbulence-induced bioluminescence has also been used to detect submarine activity.How Do Dinoflagellates Make Bioluminescence?Dinoflagellates, also known as phytoplankton or microalgae, create their own inner light from a chemical reaction between oxygen and a photoprotein called luciferin. The Ocean Portal Team at the Smithsonian describe how some light emitters use an enzyme called luciferase to catalyze the reaction. The resulting light is blueish-green, a short wavelength that travels further through ocean water than the longer wavelengths of red light.Dinoflagellates don't have a monopoly on glowing from within. Deep-sea creatures that live in the dark ocean depths create their own light sources, too. Some squid species have specialized collections of light-emitting bacteria gathered within their bodies. Angler fish dangle a light lure to attract prey, and that same prey often uses bioluminescence to signal being attacked in the hope of bringing an even bigger predator to the rescue. This feature was used to capture the first video of a giant deep-sea squid in action. In this TED Talk, researchers described using a blue light lure as an alarm to simulate predator attack.When Does Ocean Bioluminescence Take Place?Bioluminescent waves such as the ones seen in southern California usually happen after a red tide, as noted by Atlas Obscura, when millions of dinoflagellates or other unicellular organisms gather. The name comes from the water's appearance during the day. Since they are like plants and contain chlorophyll, the organisms gather in great numbers on the ocean surface as they need sunlight to generate energy. The Scripps Institute of Oceanography at University of California, San Diego, describes how each dinoflagellate contains a blob of red, so that when they gather together in large numbers they turn the water red. This is usually called a bloom and can last for days, weeks or even months. For example, the red tide off the southwest coast of Florida in 2017 lasted over 10 months, as noted by National Geographic.Red Tide DangerBioluminescence isn't dangerous to humans or animals; however, red tides can pose a serious threat. The red tide that occurred in Florida in 2017 caused a massive fish die-off. Along with the smell of decaying fish that washed up on the shore, the algal red tide also released fumes that caused respiratory irritation to people on the shore.Termed harmful algal blooms (HABs) by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these vast accumulations of dinoflagellates choke the water surface with their sheer mass. While it's still not clear why HABs occur, there seems to be a link with a change in water conditions, such as when storms disrupt the water column, bringing deeper water to the surface. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that climate change could see an increased incidence of HABs. Run-off from agriculture also contributes to HABs because it loads nutrients into areas that feed the algal bloom.Not only can HABs deplete oxygen levels to form dead zones in the water, some algal species involved in red tides produce toxins as they grow and die off. These can be neurotoxins or irritants such as brevetoxin or endotoxin. If ingested through drinking the water or eating contaminated shellfish, they can cause serious illness and even death. Marine animals and even dogs running along affected beaches have been killed by red tides.Learn more about how Northrop Grumman explores burgeoning research areas to create revolutionary technology, defining possible from deep sea to outer space.

Bioluminescent Waves Light Up the Shoreline

In a world filled with technology, some of the most sophisticated designs exist in nature. Butterfly wing anatomy, for example, is delicate, complicated and efficient. Butterfly wings are also extremely fragile and sensitive to temperature changes, so what prevents them from overheating?   How to Study Butterfly Anatomy   Researchers at Columbia University and Harvard University used a new technique called infrared hyperspectral imaging to find out how butterfly wings avoid overheating. They learned that butterfly wings are based on a complex thermodynamic structure that can teach us about how to make more efficient cooling materials. The researchers anesthetized butterflies and then used a paintbrush to carefully remove the wing scales to reveal the wings' nanostructure. They also injected a blue stain into the butterfly's thorax. This stain was then carried by hemolymph, which is like a bug's version of blood, so it spread throughout the butterfly's living cells and tissues, making it easier for the scientists to see the tiny details and go deeper than butterfly wing anatomy.   However, even with a stain, it is difficult to study how butterfly wings manage heat. According to ScienceNews, butterfly wings are so thin and semi-transparent that thermal cameras can't distinguish the difference between heat from the wings or other things in the background. To get around this challenge, the Columbia-Harvard team designed a technique based on infrared hyperspectral imaging where each pixel of an image represents an infrared spectrum. Then they used this special thermal camera to map the way heat dissipated from certain areas on the delicate wings of more than 50 butterfly species.   What Keeps Butterfly Wings From Overheating?   With this new imaging technique, the researchers were able to map out the thermodynamic properties that make butterfly wings so efficient, as well as gain a deeper understanding of how the insect's body works as a whole.   "This work shows that we should reconceptualize the butterfly wing as a dynamic, living structure rather than as a relatively inert membrane," said Naomi E. Pierce, a biology professor at Harvard who co-led the new thermodynamic research. "Patterns observed on the wing may also be shaped in important ways by the need to modulate temperatures of living parts of the wing."   They discovered a "wing heart" that beats a few dozen times per minute to control blood flow to the scent pads of certain species of butterflies. More surprising, they discovered that butterfly wings contain a network of mechanical and temperature sensors that work similarly to a household radiator heater.   Butterfly wings contain a mixture of living and nonliving structures covered by scales made of a rigid substance called chitlin, according to Scientific American. The live portions of wings have scent pads, pheromone-releasing organs and veins; chitlin membranes stretch between the wing veins.   It turns out that the scales covering different parts of the wing have different shapes to help regulate the wing's heat. Butterfly wings don't overheat because of a process called radiative cooling, according to Scientific American. Because heat is electromagnetic radiation generated by the vibration of molecules, when a material exposes more molecules on its surface it will be able to dissipate more heat. Therefore, the structure of materials will allow them to release heat more quickly than others.   There is one type of scale that covers the wing's non-living parts, which aren't as sensitive to heat. Then there are special scales to cover the living parts of the wing that are more susceptible to overheating. Scales over the scent pads are shaped like a bunch of tiny tubes, similar to radiators but only one micron in diameter. Just like a household heater, these nanostructures are shaped to efficiently dissipate warmth. While the radiator-style scales help protect the wing's organs from overheating, the scales covering veins are also efficient at emitting heat, although they are thicker, with many holes.   The Columbia and Harvard researchers also experimented with how butterfly wings handle different environmental conditions. They varied the light and temperature and found that this radiative cooling anatomy caused the live areas of butterfly wings (the veins and scent pads) to always be cooler than the lifeless areas of the wings.   Butterfly-Inspired Technology   Butterfly wings are joining a growing list of nature that inspires technology. Because of their complex thermodynamic structures, butterfly wings can teach us how to make more efficient cooling materials. The researchers are using what they learned from butterfly wings, along with other studies they've done on sub-Saharan ants, to develop a cooling polymer and spin it into nanostructures inspired by butterfly wing anatomy.   This material could be used to coat structures such as buildings to help them get rid of heat. Similar heat-repellent materials are often white because that color doesn't absorb heat. But as a bonus, just like butterflies, this new lightweight cooling material could be made in a variety of colors.   Butterfly-inspired cooling materials would be especially useful for developing heat-resistant aircraft. Nature is the ultimate inspiration for aircraft. Someday, airplane wings could be as efficient as butterfly wings.    Enable targeting cookies to view this content.    

Butterfly Wing Anatomy Inspires Cool New Materials

How do cats always land on their feet? Unlike toast, which really does land badly each and every time, cats hit the deck right side up. Far from being just an urban myth, the majority of felines dropped from a height manage to land on all fours; from your domestic moggy to the king of the beasts, feline agility is at work. While this isn't a recent evolution, understanding feline physics could prove useful for modern scientists. Does Feline Agility Defy Physics? The falling cat question has been under scrutiny for a considerable number of years, puzzling many scientists. (There's even a book about the phenomenon.) Back in 1894, é‰tienne-Jules Marey captured the arc of a cat falling on film, creating a slow-motion series of frames that showed what was happening. As Ars Technica describes, when it was first presented, Marey's slo-mo cat fall led esteemed physicists to declare that cats were acting "against the known laws of physics." Regardless of feline agility defying physics, Marey's film captured a cat showing the "bend and twist" necessary in mid-flight to bring its legs underneath its body for a safe landing. Each frame showed how the cat flexed its spine and rotated its legs to land "butter-side" up, so to speak. How Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet? Watching a caracal falling out of a tree also helps to further explain why feline agility is purr-fect for successful landings. In a BBC video, the wild cat, native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Pakistan and northwestern India, falls gracefully to the ground. Following the slow-motion frames, the narrator describes the sequence of events. As the feline orientates itself in space to determine which way up it is facing, it starts a two-direction rotation. The forelimbs go clockwise while the rear spins counter to that. The cat holds its front legs close into its body similar to the way ice skaters do to increase speed of spin. This is key as it allows the animal to exert a force against the rest of its body, with the flexible spine allowing the rotations to continue. As the cat rights itself it brings all four feet underneath and arches its back to prepare to absorb the landing. Muscular and flexible limbs held perpendicular to the main body mass absorb the compression and impact forces for a successful landing. The Benefits of Stomping the Landing Landing correctly seems like a no-brainer, but not all animals manage this as effectively as the cat family. The reason for this, as a National Geographic video mentions, is that cats are tree dwellers, and all tree dwellers have an innate righting reflex. As an evolutionary survival skill, it makes total sense that if you live above ground, being able to fall correctly is a bonus. Purina notes that this reflex develops from the age of three weeks in kittens and is complete at around seven weeks. Cats have another advantage that makes them more likely to survive a fall: Their terminal velocity is low. Terminal velocity is the limiting uniform velocity attained by a falling body when the resistance of the air has become equal to the force of gravity. In other words, it's the fastest speed a falling body gets to in free flight since resistance to the air limits the acceleration attained. Cats deploy a fluffy parachute by stretching themselves out, a little like a flying squirrel. This means that their terminal velocity is around 60 miles per hour (mph), whereas humans hit terminal velocity at 120 mph. Science and the Falling Cat Scientists have long been fascinated by falling cats, and veterinarians even more so by their survival rates. Although an earlier study seemed to suggest that falls from greater heights were more survivable, a 2003 paper in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery pointed out that since owners rarely take deceased cats in for medical care, the study sample was skewed; falls from above seven stories often resulted in more severe injuries, although the survival rate was still remarkable compared with people falling the same distance. Fascination for feline agility extends to robotics, where building machines that are capable of self-righting, landing correctly or surviving falls offers a lot more versatile. This curiosity also extends to space, where NASA studied how cats fell in order to coach their astronauts on how to move around in zero gravity. One of the main problems encountered in falling is that there is often nothing to exert pressure against except your body itself. By studying how cats fall, NASA was able to break down the sequence of events into maneuvers that astronauts could use to re-orientate themselves in zero gravity. The scientists also discovered one amazing fact about feline agility: When falling, cats need gravity to orientate themselves for the bend and twist necessary to land successfully. In addition to using their eyes to check which way up they are falling, cats also need input from gravity. Gravity gives signals that alert the vestibular system in the inner ear and tell the cat which way it is pointing. As parabolic flight films show, cats lose their amazing righting reflex when dropped in zero gravity. Are you interested in science and innovation? We are too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.

Feline Agility, or Why Cats Land Butter-Side Up

An endangered plant having the ability to hide from people searching for it seems like something out of a science fiction movie. But research published in Current Biology suggests that fritillary species may be using camouflage plant stealth to avoid being picked. ScienceNews describes how Fritillaria delavayi plants growing in easily accessible mountain sites blended in more with the background, becoming almost invisible to the human eye. However, rather than camouflage plants pulling on camouflage pants, this is more an example of evolutionary pressure at work rather than wardrobe stealth. Hiding in plain sight means that the invisible fritillary survives to flower and thrive. Commercial Harvest for Traditional Medicine Fritillary plants grow in temperate areas of the world, from Europe through the Middle East and into Asia. These perennial flowering plants — specifically, their tiny bulbs — are highly valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine for cough and respiratory illness remedies. Smithsonian Magazine notes that as many as 3,500 bulbs are needed for one kilogram of the medicinal powder valued at around $480 USD. Now, researchers are noting how human harvesting activity has put pressure on these prized wild populations. Researchers examining endangered fritillary populations had previously been baffled by how their study populations could disappear from one year to the next. However, with access to harvesting records, they began to understand the enormous pressure on certain sites from human foragers. The prized tiny plants grow on scree slopes in high-altitude areas, meaning that only easily accessible locations are harvested. This puts more pressure on these perennials to become a camouflage plant in order to live and grow another year. Studying a Camouflage Plant in Its Natural Environment Using spectrometry, the research team measured how closely the fritillary matched the rocky alpine meadows that they grew in. They found that in certain areas, more turned into a camouflage plant and blended into the background. At first, the scientists thought that this was probably due to predation, since most plant evolution is driven to avoid being an animal's lunch. However, ScienceNews notes that when the team looked more closely, they couldn't find any evidence of nibbling — a telltale sign that herbivore action is responsible for plant disappearance. Science Alert reports that the researchers then turned to the human population for answers. From discussions with the local population, they were able to estimate how heavily certain areas were harvested. When they compared the spectroscopy data with the harvesting estimates, they found that plants in heavily harvested areas were more likely to show drab gray-brown coloring rather than the usual vibrant green. The Benefits of Invisibility and Other Tales of Evolution To the fritillary plants, being invisible is a huge benefit. By blending into the rocky scree surroundings, the plants avoid being noticed by people searching for them. In computer tests, the researchers found that it took people longer to spot the camouflage plant in an image. Fritillary plants hiding in plain sight aren't the first evidence of human activity influencing evolution, though it is an uncommon cause of adaptation. Dr. Bernard Kettlewell's research on wing colorization published in Nature in 1955 showed that industrial pollution influenced Peppered Moth development. Where environments were covered in heavy black soot, those with black wings had an advantage over lighter-colored moths and could avoid predators to survive and breed. Human Activity Shapes Evolutionary Adaptation A 2005 paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) also describes how human pressure can impact plant adaptation. The research team that published the study investigated how harvesting for desirable species led to changes in the plant populations. Their data found that the highly prized Himalayan Snow Lotus decreased in height over a 100-year span. This was not seen in related species that were less threatened and not prized by collectors. Another PNAS study suggests that humans as predators drive far greater rates of evolutionary change than other natural selection processes. Human harvesting drove more rapid phenotype changes in various wild populations than previously appreciated, leading the study's authors to sound a note of alarm. This was also seen in a 2009 Evolutionary Applications study, which notes that fishing pressure has reduced the age and size at maturation for several heavily fished species at sea. Human activity is driving a lot more than camouflage plant adaptation. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery in science, technology, and engineering.

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