Bioinspiration

Photo of an abalone shell with nacre layer exposed

Technique reveals deeper insights into the makeup of nacre, a natural material

Discovery could lead to new designs for improved and more sustainable materials inspired by nature.

October 30, 2020

The conductive polymer material was tested for its electrical conductivity while immersed in water to demonstrate its durability and ability to maintain adhesion.

How to get conductive gels to stick when wet

A new way of making polymers adhere to surfaces may enable better biomedical sensors and implants.

March 20, 2020

Inspired by tissue that keep mussels attached to rocks underwater, MIT graduate student Seth Cazzell (pictured) and Associate Professor Niels Holten-Andersen found that controlling pH enables reversible hydrogel formation.

Widening metal tolerance for hydrogels

MIT graduate student Seth Cazzell shows controlling pH enables reversible hydrogel formation in wider range of metal concentrations.

December 23, 2019

MIT engineers identified “functional elements” in plant growth that they realized in the design of a physical robot. In a plant (right), “fluidized material,” in the form of nutrients, flow up to the tip, where they convert into solid material, in the form of the plant’s stem. The design basis (left) for the new robot works similar, with fluidized material, in the form of a flexible chai...

Flexible yet sturdy robot is designed to “grow” like a plant

Its extendable appendage can meander through tight spaces and then lift heavy loads.

November 7, 2019

MIT engineers have devised a double-sided adhesive that can be used to seal tissues together.

Double-sided tape for tissues could replace surgical sutures

New adhesive that binds wet surfaces within seconds could be used to heal wounds or implant medical devices.

October 30, 2019

MIT engineers have designed coiled “nanoyarn,” shown as an artist’s interpretation here. The twisted fibers are lined with living cells and may be used to repair injured muscles and tendons while maintaining their flexibility.

“Nanofiber yarn” makes for stretchy, protective artificial tissue

Twisted fibers coated with living cells could assist healing of injured muscles and tendons.

April 23, 2019

A mechanically trained artificial muscle resists damage (crack) propagation using aligned nanofibrils, a similar fatigue-resistant mechanism as in skeleton muscles.

Working out makes hydrogels perform more like muscle

Mechanical “training” produces strong, fatigue-resistant, yet soft hydrogels with possible uses in medicine.

April 22, 2019

The experimental setup used to study the behavior of spider dragline silk. The cylindrical chamber at center allowed for precise control of humidity while testing the contraction and twisting of the fiber.

Spider silk could be used as robotic muscle

Unusual property of the ultrastrong material could be harnessed for twisting or pulling motions.

March 1, 2019

Using its undulating tail and a unique ability to control its own buoyancy, SoFi can swim in a straight line, turn, or dive up or down.

Soft robotic fish swims alongside real ones in coral reefs

Made of silicone rubber, CSAIL’s “SoFi” could enable a closer study of aquatic life.

March 21, 2018

Animals have evolved all manner of adaptations to get the nutrients they need. For nectar-feeding bats, long snouts and tongues let them dip in and out of flowers while hovering in mid-air. To help the cause, their tongues are covered in tiny hairs that serve as miniature spoons to scoop and drag up the tasty sap.

Hairy tongues help bats drink up

New model predicts how hairs on a bat’s tongue draw up nectar.

February 7, 2018

Engineers at MIT have developed a new model to simulate dynamic soaring, and have used it to identify the optimal flight pattern that an albatross should take in order to harvest the most wind and energy. They found that as an albatross banks or turns, it should do so in shallow arcs, keeping almost to a straight, forward trajectory.

Engineers identify key to albatross’ marathon flight

Flying in shallow arcs helps birds stay aloft with less effort.

October 10, 2017

Dubbed “Primer,” a new cube-shaped robot can be controlled via magnets to make it walk, roll, sail, and glide. It carries out these actions by wearing different exoskeletons, which start out as sheets of plastic that fold into specific shapes when heated. After Primer finishes its task, it can shed its “skin” by immersing itself in water, which dissolves the exoskeleton.

“Superhero” robot wears different outfits for different tasks

Shape-shifting device from CSAIL can walk, roll, sail, and glide using recyclable exoskeletons.

September 27, 2017

Engineers at MIT can predict how beds of tiny, soft hair, such as those that line surfaces inside the human body, will bend in response to fluid flow.

Our hairy insides

Engineers predict how flowing fluid will bend tiny hairs that line blood vessels and intestines.

August 21, 2017

Researchers at MIT have explored the secrets behind the conch shell’s extraordinary impact resilience. The findings are reported in a new study by MIT graduate student Grace Gu (right), postdoc Mahdi Takaffoli (left), and McAfee Professor of Engineering Markus Buehler.

Conch shells spill the secret to their toughness

Three-tiered structure of these impact-resistant shells could inspire better helmets, body armor.

May 26, 2017

The Nereis virens worm inspired new research out of the MIT Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics. Its jaw is made of soft organic material, but is as strong as harder materials such as human dentin.

Worm-inspired material strengthens, changes shape in response to its environment

A bio-inspired gel material developed at MIT could help engineers control movements of soft robots.

March 20, 2017

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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