Cybathlon
Implantable pulse generators help turn paralyzed patients into bionic athletes.
Magnetic Gels Fix Muscles
A muscle-repairing implant may suppress inflammation and grow new tissue.
Glass Paint
A new paint made up of the constituents of glass is durable, resilient, and environmentally friendly.
Seahorse Tails
The seahorse’s unique tail structure is inspiring mechanical engineers.
Robotic Materials
Many futuristic inventions are inspired by biological systems.
Synthetic Clot Material
An injectable clotting agent may stanch life-threatening bleeding.
Stretchy Origami
Engineers develop a rubbery substance that changes shape under the influence of heat or light.
Slosh-stopping Foam
Engineers discover what waiters and bartenders have known for centuries: foam keeps drinks from sloshing.
SURVIVAL IN THE WILD
SURVIVAL (Encore Presentation) - Why female Komodo dragons die young, a whale that sounded like a person, and algae that flee their predators. Also: how the brain's insulation differs between us and chimpanzees, and why that insulation is so important to social development.
Ocean Chemicals
The U.S. has banned some fire retardants because of their toxicity. But the same chemicals are also produced naturally by marine life.
Concussions & Horns
The horns of male bighorn sheep protect their heads; could the NFL learn from them?
Nano Sensor
A nanotechnology based chemical sensor could reveal the presence of explosives, drugs or just about anything else.
Solar Grass Blades
Unique nanostructures copy grass blade architecture to harvest sunlight.
Face-Repairing Foam
A foam-like polymer could help repair bone defects in the face.
Squishy Robots
Materials that can go from firm to squishy and back could make robots more versatile.
Chitosan Plastic
A biodegradable plastic isolated from shrimp shells could help curb a huge environmental problem.
Plastic Regeneration
One day, plastics in many a variety of products may repair themselves.