Buildings that breathe through pores, robots that move like newts and surfaces that shimmer like blue butterfly wings. Read the latest issue of DTU’s international Technologist magazine, which has a focus on ‘biomimetics’.
There are many examples of how nature inspires people to develop technologies. Biomimetics is an area seeing rapid growth. For example, the number of patents, scientific articles and research projects within the field has quadrupled in USA since the start of the millennium.
The new issue of Technologist takes a closer look at a number of European examples of biomimetics within architecture, medicine, and engineering. For example, you can read about Aquaporin, a Danish company which has developed a water purification technology jointly with DTU, based on membranes that can purify water in the same manner as in nature, using aquaporins. Aquaporin's technology recently proved that it is easier, faster, more robust and less energy-consuming than other water treatment methods, when astronaut Andreas Mogensen tested the method during his stay on the international space station in September last year.
There is also lots of other interesting reading material in Technologist, as always—from brief technical news to in-depth features and impressive infographics.
Read Technologist online at technologist.eu, where articles are regularly published, along with other interesting technology news. Or order a subscription to the printed version from the magazine's website.