It doesn’t sport swivelly eyes or an absurdly long tongue, but a new robot does boast of a chameleon’s most eye-catching trait: being able to change colors on demand. With…
In 2019, XPRIZE Rainforest opened its doors and challenged the world to develop new biodiversity assessment technologies by offering a $10 million prize for the best one. The consequent mobilization will extend…
From spiderweb-inspired shampoo to a hotel whose architecture is based on the thermal properties of toucan beaks, scientists and companies in Brazil are betting on nature’s intelligence to create innovative solutions that reduce impacts on the planet.
Scientists say they’ve discovered the first-known instance of an amphibian mimicking a venomous snake to deter would-be predators. There are a number of examples of harmless animals impersonating harmful or…
Nectar-feeding bats shift the shape of their tongue to slurp up sugar from flowers upon which they feed, finds a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy…
Tungara frog singing in Panama. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. New understanding of how female tungara frogs sort out the din of multiple males singing may lead to insights into…
Discovery may lead to organic acrylic glass made from sugar Discovery may lead to organic acrylic glass made from sugar mongabay.com November 16, 2008
Financial crisis could pave way for greener economy inspired by nature Financial crisis could pave way for greener economy inspired by nature mongabay.com October 20, 2008
Company that turns CO2 into eco-friendly plastic gets new CEO Company that turns CO2 into eco-friendly plastic gets new CEO mongabay.com October 20, 2008
Challenges of starting a green business Challenges facing green business start-ups mongabay.com October 20, 2008
Whale biomimicry inspires better wind turbines Whale biomimicry inspires better wind turbines mongabay.com July 7, 2008 By studying and mimicking the characteristics of the flippers, fins and tails of whales…
Future cities will be more like ecosystems that enrich society and the environment Future cities will be more like ecosystems that enrich society and the environment Tina Butler, mongabay.com May…
Squid beaks may revolutionize engineering Squid beaks may revolutionize engineering Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com March 27, 2008 Researchers uncover the secret of super-hard squid beaks. Graded beaks may revolutionize engineering When…
New research uncovers the super-tail of the gecko According to new research the gecko may have the most dynamic tail in the natural world. Two researchers from UC Berkley have…
Biomimicry of sea cucumber skin may help stroke treatment Biomimicry of sea cucumber skin may help stroke treatment mongabay.com March 6, 2008 Using sea cucumber skin for design inspiration, scientists…
Gecko-inspired adhesive tape could facilitate recovery from surgery Gecko-inspired adhesive tape could improve recovery from surgery mongabay.com February 18, 2008 Researchers are close to developing a biodegradable surgical adhesive based…
? Termites may produce cleaner biofuels Termites may produce cleaner biofuels mongabay.com November 23, 2007 Termites may be the key to greener, more effective biofuels, report scientists writing in the…
Gecko + mussels = biomimetic underwater adhesive Gecko + mussels = biomimetic underwater adhesive mongabay.com July 19, 2007 Scientists have developed a new adhesive material based on the properties of…
Gecko biomimicry produces adhesive better than the real thing Gecko biomimicry produces adhesive better than the real thing Nanotube Adhesive Sticks Better than a Gecko's Foot University of Akron June…
A Wiser Earth? World's largest movement has no leader but 100M employees A Wiser Earth? World's largest movement has no leader but 100M employees Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com June 11,…
Farms modeled on biological systems may better cope with global warming Farms modeled on biological systems may better cope with global warming mongabay.com February 20, 2007 Complex farming systems could…
Biomimicry of beetle could produce whiter teeth Biomimicry of white beetle could produce whiter teeth Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com January 18, 2007 A pure white beetle found in the forests…
Butterfly biomimicry improves communications technology Butterfly biomimicry improves communications technology mongabay.com December 11, 2006 A new DARPA-sponsored study says that biomimicry of butterfly wings can help researchers build complex photonic…
Biomimicry of native prairie yields more bioenergy than corn ethanol Biomimicry of native prairie yields more bioenergy than corn ethanol mongabay.com December 7, 2006 Diverse mixtures of plants that mimic…
Snail venom could be used to treat pain due to spinal cord injury Snail venom could be used to treat pain due to spinal cord injury mongabay.com November 14, 2006…
Beetle biomimicry could allow robots to climb vertical glass walls Beetle biomimicry could allow robots to climb vertical glass walls mongabay.com November 3, 2006 Researchers at Max Planck Institute for…
Shark biomimicry produces renewable energy system Shark biomimicry produces renewable energy system Rhett Butler, mongabay.com November 1, 2006 Tidal energy conversion system produces no pollutant and minimal environmental impact An…
Bacteria can generate renewable energy from pollution, help fight global warming Bacteria can generate renewable energy from pollution, help fight global warming mongabay.com October 26, 2006 Currently, most energy production…
Bacteria can ensure clean water say researchers Bacteria can ensure clean water say researchers mongabay.com October 24, 2006 Water is shaping up to be one of the most critical problems…
Feathers, human hair used to fight oil spill in Philippines Feathers, human hair used to fight oil spill in Philippines mongabay.com August 24, 2006 The Philippines has asked for hair…