Human teacher

Dragonfly - Helicopter

Bee Eye - Camera Lens

Bird - Airplane

Butterfly - Satellite

Bat---Radar

Seagull--Seaplane

Egg--Thin-shell structure

Whale--Ship

Leaves - wheels

Shape of submarine - fish shuttle shape

Kangaroo - off-road vehicle

Shell - tank

The driving and walking strategies of ant colonies may have some inspiration for humans

An army of ants is more advanced in traveling skills

In modern cities, traffic jams have become a must-have to face every day on the road. big problem. Once there is a traffic jam, it will not only delay the time of people traveling by car, but also increase the irritability of people inside and outside the car. How to solve this city’s “chronic disease”?

After studying ants, British scholars said that maybe humans can get some inspiration from the tiny ants. Although ants are small, they are much better at "driving and walking" than humans. Researchers said that armies of millions of ants are usually "tolerant of loneliness" and they simply move along a road structure to ensure that the team can reach the destination as soon as possible and will not be hindered by the choice of road. Delay time. Compared with humans, if they want to get from point A to point B, the ant army has figured out a method that is more logical and has a much higher success rate.

Biologists say that the ant army is constantly moving and rushing day after day. Their travel strategies may be inspiring to people who shuttle back and forth in the city and reduce travel stress. The ant colony has formed its own effective "traffic network" and they follow this route almost "blindly" without a trace of doubt. It is crucial for each member of each ant colony to be able to follow the path "precisely".

Scientists say that even though their eyesight is not as good as humans, their brains are much smaller than humans, and the behavioral rules followed by ant colonies are extremely simple, this method does work. In fact, the world of ants is also a small society, which has many similarities with humans living in the urban jungle. Like humans, they face problems such as waste disposal, management institutions, and transportation. If we could realize that many problems in nature are solved "perfectly", then humans should do better.

The difference, scientists say, is that humans are selfish. Everyone wants to get to work quickly and doesn't care about other people. If our drivers can be more patient, the simple traffic rules in the ant world might also be applicable to humans.

In India, people often use a special small box to catch monkeys. Put delicious nuts in the arranged box, and open a small opening in the box, just enough to insert the monkey's front paws, but as long as the monkey holds on to the nuts, its paws cannot be pulled out. In this way, it can either put down the fruit and continue its freedom, or it can hold on to the fruit and wait to be picked up. Most of the monkeys cling to the fruits and are easily caught by hunters. People often fall into this situation. The person who puts the good things in the box can control the person who goes to the box to get the things. But as long as we are willing to give up this benefit, we will not be controlled by others

Spiders and Scientists

Early in the morning, you see a spider web hanging on the eaves. What interest. But did you know that this unpleasant insect has attracted the attention of many scientists?

The spider’s legs don’t have any muscles, but they are very flexible. It turns out that its legs are filled with a liquid. The spider can adjust the pressure of this liquid at any time to control the movement of its 8 legs. Move freely online. This method is called hydraulic transmission in physics. Many hydraulic machines were invented inspired by this.

We know that the hexagonal hive of bees is the most material-saving architectural design, and the structure of the spider web can win the admiration of mathematicians! The spider web looks like a complex geometric figure in the shape of "Bagua" , it would be difficult for you to draw it so evenly and beautifully even with a ruler and compass.

Spiders weave their webs according to an advanced geometric curve, which is a "logarithmic spiral" infinite curve that requires complex formulas to calculate. The tiny spider can easily weave such complex patterns. The secret behind this has attracted many scientists.

The most attractive thing about spiders is their "weavers". It turns out that there is glue in the silk sac in its body, and there is a spinneret at the back end of the abdomen. The spinneret has many small holes; the glue passes through the holes and is pulled by attachments, becomes thinner and longer, and condenses into filaments. A spider silk is made up of many thin threads. People were inspired to design spinnerets for rayon, man-made fibers, which caused a revolution in the textile industry.

The main purpose of people studying spiders is to get silk from them. Humans raise silkworms to obtain silk, which is woven into beautiful satin. But raising silkworms is very hard, requires a large amount of mulberry leaves, has strict requirements on raising temperature and humidity, and must prevent silkworms from getting sick. More than 5,500 silkworm cocoons are needed to produce 1kg of silk, so silk and satin are expensive. Spiders, on the other hand, are not so delicate and can survive everywhere. Many scientists hope to ask spiders for silk directly. French scientist Boon woven the world's first pair of "spider silk gloves", which were light and transparent and caused a sensation. But the problem is that raising spiders is not easy. Spiders eat insects and sometimes kill each other. In addition, spiders cannot make cocoons, and spinning silk everywhere is difficult to control. After calculation, 1.5 million spiders are needed to produce 1kg of spider silk. Therefore, it is really difficult to mass-produce spider silk, and another method must be found.

The latest research by biologists brings hope, which is genetic engineering. Scientists transplanted the genes for producing spider silk in spiders into a bacterium, so that the bacteria have the ability to secrete spider silk glue. After mass reproduction and culture, this spider silk glue can be used. This kind of glue has high tensile strength, elasticity, is not easy to break, is easy to dye, and has a good hand feel. It is a promising "artificial spider silk". There are also reports that the silk-forming genes of spiders are transplanted into goats to turn goat milk into spider silk glue, so that the glue obtained can be obtained faster and more efficiently.

"Artificial spider silk" also has newer and more important uses, such as weaving into high-strength bulletproof vests, which are very light and breathable, and are much stronger than traditional heavy bulletproof vests. According to the latest reports, scientists have made "electroplated spider silk", electroplating extremely thin spider silk with a layer of metal to become extremely strong "nano wires" with a diameter of only 100nm. The successful research on this kind of wire will lead to a revolution in the microelectronic device manufacturing industry!

Look, the little spider has a lot of knowledge!

Ice worms are known as the only creatures on earth that cannot freeze to death, and they have the characteristics of scientists’ ideal alien life. Scientists believe that the rare cold-resistant physique of ice worms can prove that cold-resistant creatures like ice worms may also exist on alien planets. They walk freely in the ice, survive actively in polar low temperatures, and turn into a sticky mass when the temperature rises slightly. The Seattle Times reported on February 21 that American biologists, together with NASA and National Geographic Magazine, will invest heavily in studying polar ice worms, hoping to take a big step forward in exploring extraterrestrial life.

The polar ice worm is one of the few organisms active in the low temperatures of the polar regions. They are called by biologists the largest invertebrates and the most active creatures on the frozen earth. Polar ice worms live in glacial areas covered with snow all year round. They can be found in the glaciers near the pole in Alaska, British Columbia, and Oregon. They are so small that they look like a thin black line in the snow.

They may be the most cold-resistant animals in the world. In the biting cold temperature of the glacier area, other animals are almost frozen into popsicles, and even their cells are frozen to the point of rattling. However, this low temperature is the most comfortable living environment for polar ice worms. Scientists have discovered that the ice worm's cell membrane and cell enzymes metabolize normally at low temperatures, and the cell membrane maintains its inherent elasticity.

Iceworms are not only resistant to freezing but also resistant to hunger. Scientists once put several ice worms in the refrigerator to study. Two years have passed, and the iceworm, which neither eats nor drinks, is still surviving tenaciously in the refrigerator.

But ice worms also have a fatal flaw - they are afraid of heat. The ice worm's ability to resist high temperatures is extremely fragile. As long as the temperature is higher than four degrees Celsius, the ice worm's cell membrane melts and the enzymes in the cells turn into a pile of hay-like viscous substance.

The mystery of ice penetration: Is there a way to break ice?

Among the many mysteries surrounding ice worms, the most incredible is that ice worms can travel freely through solid ice. No one knows how they broke through the ice.

Some scientists say that ice worms may drill out of the ice along the cracks in the ice; others speculate that ice worms have ice-breaking skills. Many biologists speculate that ice worms may contain ice-melting substances. Whenever they walk through the ice, the cells in their bodies release energy, melting the surrounding ice to form a channel, just like "a hot knife cutting through butter."

An expert on snow animals said that among the many snow fleas, snow nematodes and snow spiders, ice worms are the most amazing animals. The polar bear's thick fur insulates it from the low temperatures of the outside world and allows it to store energy. Antarctic cod has antifreeze in its blood, allowing it to live a normal life in the ice and snow. But how can naked, tiny ice worms stay warm or even wear ice? Biologist Putzel said: "When the temperature drops, the ice worm immediately produces energy in its body. It is like adding gasoline to the gas tank."

Hiding mystery: Extinction in winter?

The lifestyle of ice worms is also full of mysteries. They always live in glacial areas covered with snow all year round, and their whereabouts are secretive. As soon as summer comes, large-scale ice worms break through the ice and come out to search for food. According to researchers looking for ice worms, tens of thousands of them can be trampled to death if they are not careful.

Ice worms rise at sunset and rest at sunrise. Before the sun rises in summer, the ice worms retreat back to the ice. After the sun sets, the ice worms emerge from their burrows to forage for algae, pollen, and other digestible debris. So their scientific name is "solifugus", which means hiding from the sun.

In winter, most of the places where ice worms gather are covered by heavy snow. Without seaweed or other food, they hide underground. But so far, no one knows how iceworms spend the winter underground. Iceworms seem to disappear in winter. Scientists suspect they hibernate under the snow. But recently researchers have discovered that if you dig deep enough, you may also see ice worms in winter. Two biologists from the United States have visited Mount Rainick, which is covered with snow all year round, many times to dig for ice worms. The ice worms they have found so far are all hiding in burrows 3 meters below ground.

Uncover the mystery: It is possible to find alien life

Ice worms are known as the only creatures on earth that cannot freeze to death, and they have the characteristics of scientists’ ideal alien life. Scientists believe that the rare cold-resistant physique of ice worms can prove that cold-resistant creatures like ice worms may also exist on alien planets.

In 2005, NASA provided US$200,000 to fund ice worm research projects. NASA believes that ice worms can live comfortably in such a harsh environment, which itself proves that similar alien creatures may exist on Jupiter's ice balls or other planets.

The National Geographic Magazine of the United States also noticed ice worms and funded researchers to search for ice worms. "National Geographic Magazine" believes that the iceworm's value in organ transplantation is far more realistic than the alien life it represents. Ice worm cells are able to maintain normal metabolism at low temperatures. However, transplanted organs consume energy and shrink rapidly during the refrigeration process. If the secrets of iceworm metabolism can be revealed, doctors could use chemicals and drugs to preserve the organs longer.

In 1887, the famous Seattle photographer Curtis discovered the ice worm for the first time and named it "snow eel". But few people pay attention. In recent years, global warming has brought polar animals to the brink of extinction, and ice worms have slowly entered the attention of researchers. Ben Lee, a biology graduate student at the University of Washington in the United States, chose iceworms as his graduation thesis topic. Li said: "Ice worms are very popular now, and there is almost no research on them, but they are so wonderful."

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"Ice worms" in the eyes of literati

The imagination of literati is indeed rich. Ice worms have appeared in writers' writings as early as the early 20th century, and ice worms can also be seen in some books and poems. This small insect, less than 5 centimeters long and living under the thick ice and snow, was already a witness of love in the poet's eyes and a reflection on life.

Writer Robert Service mentioned this magical little bug many times in his works. Especially the famous poem "Trace of 98" in a novel: "In that land of light blue snowy sky, I am in the infinite world; in the light and shadow of the polar plains, polar bears are singing and dancing; ah, you are my heart and soul , my life, my soul; when the polar ice worms return to their nest, I will see you."

And Ben Lee is not only looking for and studying the ice worms themselves, he also has. One goal is to memorize Service's 140-line poem "Blue Snow Mountain":

When everything becomes clear, you approach and look shyly, and the little bugs crowd together, stretching out their blue eyes. With their colorful noses, they look for all nutrients to survive. They chew each other's tails until they survive tenaciously.

Perhaps they are so loved by poets because they can still survive in such a harsh environment. But in the next 50 years, due to global warming, the ice and snow they rely on for survival will slowly disappear. By then, ice worms will also become an extinct animal, and humans may only lament their magic in poetry.