Science & Medicine

Medicines and machines, inspired by nature

Our bodies build bones by arranging air pockets in a complex pattern that makes them incredibly strong. Engineers with a souped-up 3-D printer used this idea to make strong yet lightweight microstructures. The ultimate goal is to create better building materials.

Our bodies build bones by arranging air pockets in a complex pattern that makes them incredibly strong. Engineers with a souped-up 3-D printer used this idea to make strong yet lightweight microstructures. The ultimate goal is to create better building materials. (Jens Bauer/ Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

March 24, 2014 2:55 PM PT

For such items as cameras and surgical glue, scientists look to the natural world for clues to building better devices. Here are some examples.

Science & Medicine

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