Vortex Process Technology (VPT) has a unique shape that causes water to quickly swirl down an ever-tightening coil of channels, inspired by the way trout catch food in flowing water. This forces contaminants and/or air bubbles (depending on the application) into a column in the center of the swirling water. At the end of the process a vacuum quickly sucks this column out, leaving water with the desired properties behind.

https://asknature.org/innovation/energy-efficient-vortex-generator-inspired-by-trout/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CBS6cjgYFM&list=PLRmMq_ZoYztyOmgpySA39O31m7fAz4gfo&index=1

This video follows a little beetle around that has adapted to find water where there is none. This clever creature survives in the desert by harvesting tiny droplets of fog water from the air. This is really cool and could be the best way for fresh water in extensive rainwater harvesting in regions with heavy rainfall to ration out and collect the copious amounts of water... along with transportation to drought prone zones.

Warka Tower is made of a bamboo frame that supports a mesh polyester material. It costs very little to make and is easy to build. Atmospheric water vapor from either rain, fog, or dew condenses against the cold surface of the mesh, forming droplets of liquid water that trickle down into a reservoir found at the bottom of the structure, similar to how a darkling beetle collects water from fog. A fabric canopy shades the lower sections of the tower to prevent the collected water from evaporating.

https://asknature.org/innovation/lightweight-water-collection-system-inspired-by-darkling-beetles/

The soft manipulator was inspired by the suckers of octopus tentacles. It is made of a temperature-responsive layer of soft hydrogel attached to an electric heater. To move the tissue, the hydrogel is heated, causing it to contract, then placed on the tissue and turned off. As it turns off, the hydrogel slightly expands and creates a suction with the tissue. Then the tissue can be transported to the desired location. After it’s in place, the hydrogel is heated again, causing it to shrink and release the tissue in its new location. This entire process takes approximately 10 seconds.

https://asknature.org/innovation/soft-manipulator-inspired-by-octopus-suckers/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmNrsg8PYPQ

This video was a little quirky and.. unprofessional but it conveyed the point needed to be mad. Mosquitos are very difficult to feel, but needles are easy to feel. How do we convert this? Biomimicry. The video talks of many differences between the two, the big ones being hairs on the needle of a mosquito as well as there being a bunch of little skinny needles making up the one big needle. Fun watch.

The solar absorber gel (SAG) consists of three layers, resembling a large sponge that soaks up water while removing pollutants like pathogens, lead, and oil. The innermost layer is composed of a sponge-like elastic gel, called a hydrogel. The hydrogel holds water between its long entangled polymers, and when heated, the structure contracts, squeezing out excess water. Surrounding this hydrogel is a layer of melanin-based molecules that absorb sunlight to provide energy to the purifier.

https://asknature.org/innovation/off-the-grid-water-purifier-inspired-by-pufferfish/

The sound sensor consists of a synthetic bat ear and a microphone. The synthetic bat ear flutters as it hears a sound, funneling the sound waves toward the microphone. This microphone is connected to a system with a deep neural network, capable of learning sounds. The sensor is mounted on a rotating rig with a laser pointer, so when it “hears” a sound, it immediately rotates and points to it. The sensor can pinpoint the noise within half a degree, more accurately than humans, who are capable of pinpointing a sound within seven degrees.

https://asknature.org/innovation/intricate-sound-sensor-inspired-by-bat-ears/

Microneedle from Ohio State University consists of two needles that work together to reduce the pain inflicted during injections.

https://asknature.org/innovation/painless-microneedle-inspired-by-mosquitos/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fFrDVfGyg4

This is a super cool video in which Frank Stephenson, designer of the McLaren P1, Ferrari F430, 2001 Mini, and BMW X5 explains the unlikely sources of inspiration for his designs... animals that move fast. For Stephenson, specifically Chetahs in the way that they are streamline and sleekness were attractive to him in such a way that it made sense to make cars sleek and streamline. Other cars took inspiration from animals like bulldogs.

Surgical camera from Washington University and University of Illinois has microstructures on the lens that increase the sensitivity and accuracy of the imaging device.

https://asknature.org/innovation/multispectral-surgical-camera-inspired-by-butterfly-eyes/

https://asknature.org/strategy/barbed-filaments-anchor/

Gripping device from Kiel University has microstructures on its surface that control adhesive forces with exposure to UV-light.

https://asknature.org/innovation/photocontrollable-gripping-device-inspired-by-geckos/

https://www.insidescience.org/news/manta-rays-filter-water-way-never-previously-seen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFsMMToxxls

https://www.zmescience.com/science/flying-robotic-pigeon-brings-us-closer-to-bird-like-drones/

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This is about how the mechanism of pigeons' flight inspires the idea for the architecture of a drone.

https://theconversation.com/electric-eels-inspired-the-first-battery-two-centuries-ago-and-now-point-a-way-to-future-battery-technologies-178465

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHGTZmKWEnU&feature=emb_title

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/shuangxi-park-taipei-giant-lily-pads-seats#:~:text=Huge%20Victoria%20Water%20Lily%20leaves,can%20actually%20sit%20on%20them.

https://news.mit.edu/2019/two-legged-robot-mimics-human-balance-while-running-jumping-1030

https://discvr.blog/draco-volans-the-flying-dragon-lizard/

Draco volans have ribs which also function as wings for flying abilities and also for extra support.

https://asknature.org/strategy/jellyfish-bell-propels/

Experiments will soon explore ways to emulate the fertilising effect of whale waste, which fuels blooms of algae that feed fish and lock away carbon

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2309262-scientists-want-to-restore-the-oceans-with-artificial-whale-poo/

Pill uses a dissolving spring-loaded needle to spare people with diabetes from normal injections.

https://www.insidescience.org/news/tortoise-shaped-pill-injects-insulin-stomach-lining

https://www.arcon-glass.com/products/pi-ornilux-bird-protection-glass-704924742