Bionics Bionics (also known as bionical creativity engineering) is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology.[citation needed] The transfer of technology between lifeforms and manufactures is, according to proponents of bionic technology, desirable because evolutionary pressure typically forces living organisms, including fauna and flora, to become highly optimized and efficient. A classical example is the development of dirt- and water-repellent paint (coating) from the observation that the surface of the lotus flower plant is practically unsticky for anything (the lotus effect).[citation needed]. Ekso Bionics is currently developing and manufacturing intelligently powered exoskeleton bionic devices that can be strapped on as wearable robots to enhance the strength, mobility, and endurance of soldiers and paraplegics. The term "biomimetic" is preferred when reference is made to chemical reactions.
Solar Cells Can Now Be Printed on Anything, Even Paper and Fabric Photo by Patrick Gillooly via MIT News Researchers at MIT have figured out how to print photovoltaic cells on every-day materials like paper or fabric -- and the process is practically the same is printing this article out on your desk printer. MIT reports that a team of researchers has published a new paper in the journal Advanced Materials detailing how solar cells can be printed as easily and as cheaply as "printing a photo on your inkjet" thanks to new special inks. "The sheet of paper looks like any other document that might have just come spitting out of an office printer, with an array of colored rectangles printed over much of its surface. The paper solar cells can even be folded, and still be useful: The new process utilizes a brand new technique of printing -- it uses vapors instead of liquids, prints at cooler temperatures, and the printing is done in a vacuum chamber. "We have demonstrated quite thoroughly the robustness of this technology," Bulović says in the MIT article.
Geology.com - Earth Science News, Maps, Dictionary, Articles, Jobs New camera lets you focus photos after you shoot Lytro unveils a camera that lets the photographer focus after the fact Camera uses multiple lenses to capture more light than a normal camera Investors have already bought in, to the tune of $50 million No release date, price for the Lytro camera have been announced (CNN) -- An auto-focus camera? Not new. A camera that lets you focus after you've already taken the photo? Oh yeah -- it can also transfer a regular photo to 3-D. Lytro, a company launched Tuesday by 31-year-old entrepreneur Ren Ng, promises that camera will be released soon. "I am thrilled to finally draw back the curtain and introduce our new light field camera company, one that will forever change how everyone takes and experiences pictures," Ng wrote on the startup's blog. Apparently, some sharks are buying the buzz. Camera focuses photos after shooting Ben Horowitz of investment firm Andreessen Horowitz wrote on his blog that Ng "walked into the firm and blew my brains to bits." Lytro calls the result "living pictures."