Whales and dolphins influence new wind turbine design

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The dolphin uses a high efficiency mechanism to generate large amounts of thrust by the action of its tail fins. Credit: E. Paterson
The dolphin uses a high efficiency mechanism to generate large amounts of thrust by the action of its tail fins. Credit: E. Paterson

Sea creatures have evolved over millions of years to maximise efficiency of movement through water; humans have been trying to perfect streamlined designs for barely a century. So shouldn't we be taking more notice of the experts? Biologists and engineers from across the US have been doing just that.


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All News summaries for July 08, 2008

Technology users are failing to take adequate steps to protect their digital privacy

1 hour ago | User rating: not rated yet
In the face of technology that will soon be able not only to track an individual's movements but predict them too, people are far too relaxed about protecting their privacy, according to social psychologist Saadi Lahlou, ...

Fingerprint find in decade-old double murder probe

Sep 04, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
A decade old US double murder probe has received a new breakthrough following investigations by a University of Leicester forensic scientist at Northamptonshire Police.

Thumbs up -- a tiny ancestral remnant lends developmental edge to humans

Sep 04, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Subtle genetic changes that confer an evolutionary advantage upon a species, such as the dexterity characteristic of the human hand, while difficult to detect and even harder to reproduce in a model system, have nevertheless ...

Probing Question: Does talking to plants help them grow?

Sep 04, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
In a 1986 interview, England’s Prince Charles discussed his gardening habits, commenting "I just come and talk to the plants, really. Very important to talk to them; they respond."

Researchers map first plant-parasitic nematode genome sequence

Sep 04, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- There are numerous plant-parasitic nematodes in the world, but only a handful are responsible for the largest part of an estimated $157 billion in agricultural damage globally every year. Nematodes are small ...
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