Biomimicry: inspired by natureBiomimicry: inspired by natureBiomimicry: inspired by natureBiomimicry...

1. Incredible new tech inspired by biology
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
Biomimicry: inspired by nature
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Technology has long learned from nature -- but now it's going micro
"Cellular biomimicry" sees designers take inspiration from plant and animal cells
It's already helping prevent spam emails, filter drinking water, and provide energy
(CNN) -- When the body comes under attack by flu, dendritic cells rush to the site of infection and
identify the alien forms attacking it. Millions raise the alarm and the immune system is fired into
action.
It is a reliable and effective response, and what is good enough to protect our health has also proved
capable of safeguarding inboxes. Artificial immune systems (AIS) based on the body's cellular
response to disease are being used to target spam.
'It's an adaptive system that can be more nuanced in detecting what's dangerous", says Dr. Uwe

2. Aickelin, professor of computer science at the university of Nottingham and leading AIS developer.
"Millions of pieces of information are gathered so the cells are very accurate."
While the cells in our bodies will respond to signals such as stress and inflammation, Aickelin's
software analogue picks up on the traffic bombardments associated with spam.
To see the original post along with any other pictures or videos, visit the link aboveWhile generic
filters can cope with conventional phishing, the cellular system is suited to a user facing frequent
new threats, and has been employed by leading security companies.
This model represents a potentially transformative shift in the rapidly expanding field of biomimicry.
The trend for nature-inspired designs has spread across industries from crab-style deep-sea vessels
to insect-inspired buildings, and is projected to generate $1.6 trillion by 2030 according to Da Vinci
Index. But now technologies based specifically on cellular designs are making nature itself the
driving force.
In addition to computing, cellular biomimicry is making its mark in water filtration, meeting
President Nixon's historic challenge to make the oceans drinkable, using a membrane present in
humans and plants.
Meanwhile, photosynthetic processes are being applied to the capture and storage of solar energy,
while millions of dollars have been invested in applying the properties of lung cells to building
exteriors -- the 'Eskin' - to create a layer that allows them to interact efficiently with both people and
the environment.
"It represents a shift and ultimately where we are heading", Janine Benyus, biologist, author and
founder of Biomimcry 3.8 told CNN. "We have become very successful in mimicking form, but the
real transformational change comes in how we build our material world. Every day we are learning
more about molecular machinery in cells and how they work so as to understand and use their
design principles is key.
These principles are being applied to some of the most critical resource issues, including fuel
through the development of biobatteries. Researchers at the University of Utah have created a
battery based on the process of metabolism, using sugar as fuel, catalyzed with the natural energy
conversion properties of enzymes.
Natural chemistry is completely different to our 'heat, beat and treat formula'
Janine Benyus, founder of Biomimcry 3.8
"If you see a small child consume sugar they convert it to run around all day, so it's very efficient
and we take the same pathways to apply to the battery", says lead developer Shelley Minteer, who
claims the design has favorable performance qualities.
The biobattery can already operate devices such as smartphones, and may prove more versatile than
traditional batteries as it can function in extremely low temperatures. The technology is proved to
the extent that offshoot company Akermin has received a $3 million grant to use the technology in
one of the US' largest carbon cleaning operations in power plants.
The combination of living process and synthetic materials is rarely seamless, Minteer admits.

3. We should not simply assume that systems working at nanoscales can easily be translated to large
scales.
Skylar Tibbits, MIT self-assembly lab
Yet advances in the technology of modeling are now allowing greater control and accuracy.
Scientists can sculpt the synthesized cells at nano scale into ever more efficient arrangements,
getting closer to the natural design. Visualization tools are being driven by creative fields, notably
architecture, while manufacturing is improving rapidly through 3D printing.
There are skeptics that believe natural processes are being too readily applied. "Natural systems
evolved for very specific reasons, over millions of years, with very specific parameters, scale-lengths,
forces, and the process of translating these phenomena to other scales, function and human desires
does not come naturally or directly.", Skylar Tibbits, lead researcher at MIT's self-assembly lab,
argued in a 2013 TED talk. "We should not simply assume that systems working at nanoscales can
easily be translated to large scales."
Critics have also warned of 'Jurassic Park' unpredictable and unwanted side effects when natural
process are transplanted into technology. Such effects have been noted in Uwe Ackelein's anti-spam
program, where the target adapts the defense as well as vice versa.
But these risks pale compared to the potential benefits, exponents believe. Using the processes of
nature can deliver designs uniquely adaptive to the environment, with better function and resource
management, that can transform industries to deliver solutions to the most critical questions of the
age.
Read more from Make, Create, Innovate:
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This 'Star Trek'-style molecular sensor fits in your hand, reads your food
'Miracle material' graphene one step closer to commercial use
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/07/tech/incredible-new-tech-inspired-by-biology/