Harvard University researchers have developed a biocompatible sponge made out of a gel-based material that can be molded into any shape and compressed to a small fraction of its size. This ability allows it to be delivered via injection and restore its original shape and size while gradually releases its cargo. Since it is biocompatible… »
A team of researchers at Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) managed to combine inanimate silicon and living cardiac muscle cells into a freely swimming “jellyfish”. Aside proving reverse engineering of variety of muscular organs and simple life forms, it suggests a broader definition of what counts as synthetic life and it… »
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has recently funded the researchers from Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University to develop a smart suit that could be used to improve physical endurance for soldiers in the field. Unlike exoskeletons we previously wrote about, the proposed suit will be made from soft and lightweight… »
A team of researchers from Harvard University devised a new way to combat ice and frost on various surfaces, including metal surfaces. Once coated, the surfaces quickly shed condensation droplets as well as frost simply by employing gravity. The technology could find its use as a coating for a wide variety of metal surfaces used… »
Bioengineers at Harvard University came up with a new technology with a great potential in nanofibers production, and they refer to it as a “cross between a high-speed centrifuge and a cotton candy machine”. The invention could find many uses in industry, with potential applications ranging from artificial organs and tissue regeneration to clothing and… »
Engineers at Harvard University developed a new technique inspired by pop-up books which enables rapid fabrication of a broad range of electromechanical devices through layering and folding process. The method is also useful for parallel fabrication of Monolithic Bee (also known as “Mobee”) microrobots which rely on PARITy drivetrain we described in one of our… »
A research team from Harvard University developed an array of “soft” robots inspired by natural forms, such as squid and starfish, which are capable to perform very delicate operations or move where rigid robots might not. These abilities enable the robots to pick up a raw egg without breaking the shell, or aid in search… »
Researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have applied biomimicry of insect cuticle – tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings that provide protection – to develop a similar material they named Shrilk. The new material is able to mimic the exceptional strength, toughness, and versatility of the extraordinary material, while… »
