Via my friend Scott Mize: Advanced Materials reports on a  reversible mechanical interlocker inspired from the wing locking device of beetles. The interlocker is highly flexible and displays an extremely high shear locking force of ∼40 N/cm2 as well as an easy normal lift-off. The image shows an illustration for the wing-locking device of beetles […]
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Solar Sails
10 years ago invested in an Australian company pioneering hybrid power systems for marine vessels, starting with ferries but ambitions much larger…like oil tanker large. A decade later they may finally have a customer: Roughly 50,000 ships carry 90% of the world’s trade cargo, and these ships tend to burn a heavily polluting oil known […]
Apple Aims to “reinvent the biology textbook”
For 20+ years we’ve been talking about the role of computers in transforming education. Today’s iBooks announcement is another step in the right direction, especially when Apple launches with a biology book! Schiller was particularly excited about announcing a partnership with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, saying they aim to “reinvent the biology textbookâ€.The first […]