Monthly Archives: November 2011

Biomimicry in Model Rocketry

Model rocketry has a frequently hostile relationship with nature. Hard desert floors shatter swiftly falling rockets, ponds drown them, high grass hides them, and high winds carry them away. So many rockets drift into the forests that inevitably surround launch fields that my local club joking acronyms itself “Carefully Arranged Tree Ornaments”. But model rocketry […]

The Goshawk: The Peak of Aviation

When it comes to precision in flight, there is no match for the Goshawk. Goshawks are species of birds of prey mainly in the genus Accipiter. There are more than 25 types of goshawk but the most prevalent species is the Northern Goshawk. It is in fact the only species of Goshawk in North America […]

Ballooning Spiders

It’s an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare. Thousands of tiny spiders flying through the air, carried by the  wind to mercilessly attack all those who cross their path. They travel with one purpose in mind – our destruction. Ok, so I was joking about spiders hellbent on our destruction, but believe it or not some spiders are […]

The Development of Gecko Tape

Geckos, known for their uncanny ability to adhere onto any surface have long been scrutinized for that reason. What makes geckos so interesting is that unlike conventional adhesives, geckos do not use liquid or temperature based adhesives and do not leave any residue on the surfaces they stick to. Because of these unique characteristics, scientists […]

Micro Flying Robots Bring Spying To A New Level

Is bigger really always better? Not in this case. Engineers have been working on tiny flying robots that have the ability to spy and detect harmful chemicals. With this new technology, these little fliers could be used by the United States Military in order to help with defending the US. The fly-like look and size […]