Beauty in Stem

I read a mind-blowing article by Advanced Science News that talks about how scientists are unraveling the secrets behind seal whiskers, and I can't stop thinking about how incredible these structures are. While most of us probably imagine seal whiskers to be similar to those of cats or dogs, some species like harbor and grey seals have evolved something far more sophisticated - … [Read more...] about How Harbor Seal Whiskers inspired Wind Turbine Technology

Scientists have spent decades trying to replicate spider silk's properties in synthetic materials. Unlike silkworms, which can be farmed, spiders are territorial and cannibalistic, making large-scale silk production impractical. This challenge has led to innovative approaches, including: Genetically modified bacteria that produce spider silk proteinsSynthetic polymers that … [Read more...] about How Spider Silk is Revolutionizing Modern Materials

Nature has long been a source of inspiration for human innovation. But perhaps one of the most elegant examples of biomimicry comes from Japan's high-speed rail system, where engineers found their solution in the most unexpected of places: the beak of a kingfisher. The other day, I stumbled across a YouTube video by Vox called “The world is poorly designed. But copying nature … [Read more...] about How a Bird Revolutionized Japan’s Bullet Train Design

Sunday afternoon, I visited Hapa Honey Farm in Fullerton, where I gained a newfound appreciation for bees. Before visiting the farm, I hated bees and strayed away from those buzzing around me, but after wearing a bee suit and holding a hive of bees today, I fell in love with the way bees work. Watching the bees work their magic in the farm's flowering gardens was … [Read more...] about Hapa Honey Farm Visit to Nature’s Most Fascinating Workers

If you take a look at a pond, especially if somewhere in Asia's many ponds and lakes, you may notice that the lotus flower emerges pristine and unblemished from murky waters. This magical ability to remain clean has fascinated scientists and engineers for decades, leading to groundbreaking innovations in self-cleaning technologies.  The lotus leaf's self-cleaning … [Read more...] about The Lotus Effect: How the Lotus’s self-cleaning super power