Tapping-into-Nature-2015p

ProductDescriptionSeawaterGreenhouseInspired by the way the Namib beetle collects water from fog, Seawater Greenhouses usecold seawater, air movement, and solar radiation to condense and collect fresh water forcrops.Aquaporin InsideBiolytix ®MATERIALSBacteria-InspiredAdhesiveSpider SilkWhale PacemakerKeratin-InspiredPolymer SynthesisNacre-InspiredDeformable GlassAquaporin A/S is pilot testing a membrane system embedded with biological water channelsthat can filter water using 80% less energy than conventional processes.Biolytix markets a household wastewater treatment system that relies on worms and otherorganisms to filter water and break down sewage. The system uses no toxic chemicals and90% less energy than conventional aerated sewage treatment systems.The bacterium Caulobacter crescentus produces a biodegradable, waterproof adhesive withgreater strain resistance than commercial super glues. Dr. Jay Tang at Brown Universitybelieves that mimicking its chemistry could yield a nontoxic glue that adheres underwater.Spider silk has high tensile strength, extensibility and toughness compared to syntheticfibers like Kevlar and nylon. Researchers are investigating how to produce similar fibers forextremely strong threads, cords, and cables.Contractions in humpback whale hearts are controlled by nano-fibers that conduct electricalsignals through an otherwise non-conductive grease coating the heart. Mimicking thisconcept using carbon nanowires could lead to a new type of pacemaker.Dr. Nomura at SUNY-ESF is producing low-embodied energy, keratin-inspired polymersto be used as crosslinking agents in resins and coatings, replacing petroleum-derivedcrosslinkers. Terrapin worked with the research team to find applications for the technologyand secure funding.Inspired by the microscopic structure of nacre and teeth, researchers at McGill Universitydeveloped deformable glass that is 200 times tougher than standard glass due to a patternof micro-cracks.Shrimp-InspiredComposite MaterialResearchers at the University of California developed a highly impact-resistant compositematerial inspired by the hard club of the Mantis shrimp.Biofilm-BasedTechnologyEnzyme-InspiredPolymer SynthesisLotus Leaf-InspiredCoatingMussel-InspiredAdhesiveResearchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materialsplatform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically activebiological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.At Cornell University, Dr. Geoff Coates is developing an enzyme-like catalyst to synthesizebiodegradable polyesters produced using significantly less energy than conventionalpolyester. Terrapin worked closely with Dr. Coates to develop research proposals andsecure funding.With assistance from Terrapin, Cornell researcher Dr. Anil Netravali is developing asuperhydrophobic coating for high voltage power lines that reduces ice buildup, electricaloutages, and costly infrastructure damage during winter storms.At RPI, Dr. Rich Gross is synthesizing cost-effective, environmentally-friendly bioadhesivesdesigned by mimicking the chemical and mechanistic features of marine mussels’ byssalthreads. Terrapin worked with Dr. Gross to differentiate his technology from competitors andsecure funding.36Tapping into Nature