Bionics

Bionics is all about putting technology and nature together. There are many uses for bionics, the most common of which is replacing lost limbs. Scientists have come a long way with bionics, to the point where we can 3D print almost any body part, as well as some major organs. These are unlike prostheses (artificial limbs), because the bionics communicate with the brain, allowing for minimum (for now) movement. It's something very important, as it keeps humans alive that much longer.

Bionics is split into a few different sub-sections. A couple examples of these would be control and chemical bionics. Control is all about imitating the orientation, move control and feedback of living creatures. With this, we can create new control systems, such as in the computer science field, artificial neurons, neural networks, and swarm intelligence was created.

Bionics is not limited to just the human body, there are a wide variety of aspects that it helps. Some of the earliest examples of bionics is Velcro and the bullet-proof vest. Velcro was created by George Da Mistral, whom discovered the applications of a material from the burrs that hooked onto his dog during walks. The bullet-proof vest was created through the observing the toughness of cobweb. The implications of bionics are indefinite.

Chemical bionics is trying to replicate the building of energy and catalytic actions (increasing the speed of actions in the organism). This allows us to create a wide variety of chemical products and technology which leads to new energy methods. An example today would be water and dirt repellent paint. This was only able to be found through the observation of the lotus flower plant, which doesn't particularly stick to anything. It is sometimes the smallest details that reveal the most useful things.

Mechanical bionics is another subsection which focuses on the structure and fundamentals of organisms. Termites, which are usually a nuisance to most people, have a highly-developed mound which has ventilation systems built through every surface. This allows the wind to blow the massive amount of heat that they generate to filter out and recycle. The East Gate center at Harare, Zimbabwe in Africa, is modelled after this. Another example would be the Swiss Re building in London, which is built to mimic the structure of sea sponge, where there are paths in gaps of each floor which naturally vent the building.

The thing bionics has the most impact though is the human body. Because of bionics, we can see a clear path to fully working bionic limbs and eyes. People who are born blind will not have to stay blind, people who lose an arm will gain a fully working counterpart. Scientists have developed an infrared bionic eye, as well as a hand that can feel. In more extreme examples, a chip implanted in the brain allowed a man paralyzed from the chest down to regain control in his hand.

Bionics continues to advance every day. It has moved far beyond the simple prosthesis that most people have come to know. One day, humanity may be able to live seemingly forever with the advance of the information of bionics.


Related Links:
Science
Biology
Branches of Biology


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