Biomimicry Engineerings Sincerest Form of Flattery

Biomimicry Engineerings Sincerest Form of Flattery Biomimicry Engineerings Sincerest Form of Flattery It is hard to improve on the real thingnature has been engineering itself since the first life forms appeared on the planet. As human engineering solutions become more challenging, engineers are taking a closer look at how natural processes work, often at the molecular or atomic scale, for inspiration such as the changing colors on a butterflys wings, the motion of an insects joint, or how termites build towering structures. These working prototypes have been with us all along, its just a matter of recognizing them and studying their design and function.According to the Biomimicry Guild, Biomimicry is an innovation method that seeks sustainable solutions by emulating natures time-tested patterns and strategiesfor example, a solar cell inspired by a leaf. The goal is to create products, processes, and policiesnew ways of livingthat are well-adapted to life on Earth over the long haul. Biomimicry follows lifes principles, such as build from the bottom up, self-assembly, optimize rather than maximize, use free energy, cross-pollinate, embrace diversity, adapt and evolve, use life-friendly materials and processes, engage in symbiotic relationships, and enhance the biosphere. By following these principles you can create products and processes that are well-adapted to life on Earth.Engineer Eiji Nakatsu welches inspired by the beak of a kingfisher for the design of Japans 200-mph Bullet train (bottom).For example, when chief engineer Eiji Nakatsu was looking for a way to prevent the sonic boom that resulted when the 200-mph Japans Shinkansen Bullet Train emerged from a tunnel, he turned to the natural world for inspiration, looking for something that travels quickly and smoothly between two very different mediums. He decided to model the front of the train after the beak of a kingfisher, which can enter the water at high speeds with very little noise or splash. Not o nly did this design eliminate the noise problem, the train now uses less energy and travels 10% faster.In another example, Omni-ID utilized biomimicry to develop new passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag technology. The problem was the inability to read RFID tags that are in close proximity to metals and liquids. For example, if a traditional RFID tag was placed on a metal roll cage or submerged in liquid, no return signal would be received or it would be quite unreliable. As a result, this problem was a major obstacle to the widespread adoption of passive ultra-high-frequency (UHF) RFID technology.The team took learning from an earlier program that had studied how the wing structure of the Blue Morpho butterfly reflects light with unexpectedly high levels of efficiency, says Tracy Gay, vice president of marketing for Omni-ID. Taking the fundamentals from the cavity structure of the butterfly wing, we enhanced light reflection and applied it with great effect to microwav e frequencies, which produced spectacularly effective passive UHF RFID devices. Based on this research and development, Omni-ID is the patent holder and inventor of an effective on-metal, passive RFID tag technology.A Turning PointAccording to Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry Innovation Inspired by Nature, human beings are at a turning point in their evolution.Though we began as a small population in a very large world, we have expanded in number and territory until we are now bursting at the seams, she says. There are too many of us, and our habits are unsustainable. Having reached the limits of natures tolerance, we are finally shopping for answers to the question How can we live on this home planet without destroying it?A school of fish in the ocean could potentially show us new ways of social networking.Just as we are beginning to appreciate what we learn from the natural world, she notes, our models are starting to blink out, and not just a few scattered organisms, but entir e ecosystems. A new survey by the National Biological Service found that one-half of all native ecosystems in the United States are degraded to the point of endangerment, she says. That makes biomimicry more than just a new way of viewing and valuing nature. Its also a race to the rescue.Bert Bras, a professor of engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, prefers to call biomimicry biologically inspired design. Biomimicry implies copying and simply copying is not necessarily the best or smartest way to do things, he says. Inspiration allows the engineer to take the best from nature and put it in a new (engineering) context.His research takes a holistic view in identifying fundamental principles that occur across multiple biological systems and that can provide new insight in how to do sustainable design and manufacturing. For example, people have heard about the Lotus effect that has led to self-cleaning surfaces in some products, he says. This principle of using a hydrophobic material with nano/micro bumps is not limited, however, to Lotus leaves but also occurs in butterflies, whales, etc. It is actually an anti-fouling principle that makes sure parasites and dirt do not adhere to an organism. It occurs in many species.Bras is studying how ecological principles from ecosystems can help design better manufacturing networks. Some ecologists, for example, use a metric called cyclicity to see how well-connected an ecosystem is, he states. The higher the cyclicity value, the better. We studied industrial networks, including industrial ecosystems, and found that their cyclicity is much lower than in natural ecosystems. We also observed a correlation between cyclicity and thermodynamic efficiency in Brayton and Rankine thermodynamic cycles.Unlimited PossibilitiesOnce scientists start looking closely, they will realize that nature is filled with incredible design solutions for common and uncommon engineering problems. One of my colleagues, David Hu, has looked at how a dog shakes off water, says Bras. Can that be a new way of drying clothes rather than our standard approach of simple rotational spin followed by vaporizing water through heat?Its also important to note that true biologically inspired work requires a multi-disciplinary team. You need biologists, says Bras. For example, my students and I work with my biology colleagues who direct Georgia Techs Center for Bio-Inspired Design (CBID).Ultimately, Bras hopes biomimicry will help people realize the immense need to preserve these biological systems. A fish in an aquarium could be a source for locomotive inspiration, but a school of fish in the wild could potentially also show us new ways of social networking or traffic management, he says. So there is an important imperative to preserve our biological systems in order to learn from them before it is too late.Mark Crawford is an independent writer.Inspiration allows the engineer to take the best from nature and put it in a new engine ering context.Prof. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology

What experts have to say about skipping breakfast and weight loss

What experts have to say about skipping breakfast and weight lossWhat experts have to say about skipping breakfast and weight lossBreakfast is one of the leading causes of stalemates in the weight loss discussion. Most of us understand the whole skipping it means results because youre eating lesstheory to be an over implication. But does its daily inclusion actually prompt healthier eating habits?A summation of the dataThe data is complicated by socioeconomic factors. While it is true that studies suggest people who eat breakfast generally weigh less than those that dont, its also true that those who have the luxury of time to fit in breakfast every day tend to lead the kind of lifestyles that can prioritize healthy living. They were also found to generally earn higher wages. Laborers that either skip the meal because they work night shifts or because their income lacks the justification of including it every day are typically saddled with the kind of things that might additionally k eep them from consistent physical activity.Of course, weight loss and health is a muddy equivalency but the findings published in The British Medical Journal should be noted. Monash University conducted a study that found people who eat breakfast to consume about 260 mora calories per day than those that do not. This is in direct defiance of the commonly stated assumption that not eating breakfast makes people imbibe more food to compensate throughout the day.Registered dietitian, Sharon Collison endorsed breakfast as a healthy addition to your day even at the forfeit of the calorie intake. Skipping it can lead to inflammation and a series of other health problems. She statesSkipping breakfast is associated with increased disease risk - not only obesity but diabetes, heart disease, and just lower dietary quality.The issue with evaluating the value of breakfast as far as weight loss is concerned also comes down to body types. Evidence suggests breakfast can improve the rate at which fat is burned for those that are already lean however intermittent fasting was found to be a much more reliable method of weight loss for other body types.The ConsensusWell, there isnt one.The should or shouldnt we eat breakfast inquiry may be a little misguided anyway. Whether your goal is to lose weight or to merely live in good health, the question should be aimed at what youre doing in addition to what you do or dont eat in the morning and how you prepare said food if you fit into the former.Even if the science championed breakfast as an absolute must, a doughnut and a sausage croissant would negate any proposed health benefits. Breakfast is only a healthy option if its defined as a meal intended to maximize energy levels and supply the necessary minerals and nutrients.A healthy breakfast needs to include these four crucial things Protein, Healthy fat, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.As far as skipping breakfast is concerned a study was published by The British Dietary Avo cation society debunked the idea that doing so will have negative effects on metabolism. The analytics found that the basic metabolic rate for both groups (the skippers and breakfast eaters) were the same.By examining the consistent data from both the advocates and detractors we can safely assume the followingBreakfast is an opportune meal to provide yourself with important nutrients and minerals conducive for a successful dayPeople who regularly consume breakfast do take on an average of 264 calories more than those that do notYou will lose weight fast by skipping breakfast but maintain your current weight much easier if you do not.

Resumes for Stay at Home Parents

Resumes for Stay at Home ParentsResumes for Stay at Home ParentsResumes for Stay at Home ParentsWe all know that parenting young children is a job requiring hundreds of skills organization, scheduling, taking initiative not to mention conflict resolution But stepping from the home to the office after many years out is a nerve-wracking prospect.You may have only a short time out of the professional world, or be aiming to get in for the first time. Your experiences, skills, and history will mean the ideal resume for you may not fit well with someone else. Here are our best resume writing tips to help you get started yourself. Alternatively, meet our professional resume writers experts in bringing people back to work.Dont make cute references to house management skills it looks unprofessional Keep any explanation to a short sentence in a cover letter or during an interview.WITH EXPERIENCEIf your time out of the workforce has been short, you will be in prime position to write a stella r resume. We recommend replacing an Objective with a Summary (or Executive Summary) of what you are best known for and excel at Project Management, Data Analysis, or Hairdressing, whatever you know bestYou work history should come next, chronologically. Functional resumes are increasingly not an option as hiring managers realize the candidate has something to hide. Finally, you can put your education and other relevant skills.Those who managed to freelance, volunteer, or work part-time should include this in your job history you might not have a eu-agrarpolitik at all No one needs to know part-time means 5 hours a week or your online commerce experience was selling old furniture on eBay. Look for figures and accomplishments you can use as you would for a regular job.If your work experience was limited, or youre planning on switching fields, you might want to feature your education more heavily or before the work history, especially if your GPA is high or your field is relevant. If you fit into this category, leading with a strong objective or a great cover letter can show the employer why youre the best for the job.WITHOUT EXPERIENCEWith patchy previous work experience, it is going to be harder to qualify. The best time to prepare for going back to work is before going back to work Use your time job hunting to qualify for new skills or volunteer.Using freelancing sites like Upwork or Peopleperhour is a way to gain part-time experience. Anything is better than nothing, and some anythings like Virtual Assistantships can give you solid transferable skills.Online courses from websites such as Lynda or Treehouse can also be used to add skills to your resume. Show employers you take initiative and improve yourself.Staying at home doesnt mean your career is finished, even if you have to take a longer route to get back in. A positive attitude, transferable skills, and a great cover letter are all things you can show employers without needing years of experience