Ladybug Blog

Heya. I'm going to be talking about those favorite critters, lady bugs. They look amazing, they help farmers, and finding one with 9 spots is considered lucky. But what are these creatures? Are they all the same species?

Ladybugs are also called lady beetles or, in Europe, ladybird beetles. There are about 5,000 different species of these insects, and not all of them have the same meals. Some eat the plants over the plant eaters, and these creatures can be dangerous to crops.

Ladybugs appear as half-spheres, tiny, spotted, round or oval-shaped domes. They have short legs and antennae. They have different amount of spots depending on the species. However, the ladybug's colors are used for a much better purpose then looking good to us humans.

Their distinctive spots and attractive colors are meant to make them unappealing to predators. Ladybugs can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a horrible taste. They also will play 'dead' in order to escape predators.

10 materials of the FUTURE!

Heya, and it's me! Today I'll be talking about 10 separate materials that look like they come from the future...

1. An outcome of merging information and materiality, digital-physical interfaces represent the immediacy of real-time interaction in the physical world. These items are individual blocks powered by tiny motors that are triggered by motion. Not only do they look cool when you wave your hand over them, they also withstand earthquakes much better because they move with the motion.
2. Joining woven textiles, biocomposites are now made using a variety of methods and materials, including fungus and agricultural waste. These materials let you make chairs, tables, houses, and more, they also are very good for the environment. These suggest a future for consumer products made of organic materials that safely biodegrade at the end of their usable lives.
3. The next phase of woven fabrics offers mechanical capabilities similar to those of high-performance composites. These textiles are made out of solo strains of organic material including paper, wool, and cotton, as well as carbon fiber and metal cable. The resulting multidimensional weaves—honeycomb, zero-to-90 degree, and zigzag—each respond to impact differently, and their applications range from shoe soles to medical implants. The development shows how soft composites can be made from biocompatible materials, replacing traditional petroleum-derived rigid alternatives.
4.  An alternative to conventionally rigid electronics, flexible processors called soft machines spell the future for powering sensing skins and wearable technology. These items stretch for a long time without snapping, and can be molded into any shape. These items are hoped to evolve into a new way to create arms and legs.
5. By emulating the restorative capacity of human skin, self-healing materials offer a novel method for resilience in the built environment. Most self-repairing materials are polymer-based, yet such technology may now be found in concrete and mineral-based composites. There is already self healing asphalt, and there are plenty of materials that offer them selfs up for testing.

((http://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/architectural-materials-to-watch-in-2015_o))

1. Solar Activated Façade, a cladding system that combines wood louvers and back-vented glazing. From my current perch in sub-zero Minneapolis, the façade’s heat-sink functionality is particularly appealing. It is very good for keeping heat in, but fancy looking! The product will be introduced to the U.S. in the first quarter of 2016.
2.  Man Made Spider Silk. Yes, the spider silk that is stronger then steel is being made into cables as you read this. These will become stronger then iron cables and be able to hold more stress. It also is extremely hard. In fact, they are thinking of replacing the cables on the Golden Gate Bridge with these.
3. The world's first 3D-printed bridge, the highly anticipated steel structure will be built using the Netherlands–based MX3D's multi-axis metal-printing technology. This process is driven by industrial robots fitted with welding machines that can print lines of various metals in mid-air, starting from an anchored surface—similar to drawing a structure in space—by incrementally fusing molten metal in short lengths and allowing it to cool.
4. The viability of three types of self-healing concrete: one with shape-memory polymers activated by electrical current, one with healing agents made from organic and inorganic compounds, and one with capsules containing bacteria and healing agents. These can be medium-ly damaged and can heal.
5. Finally, research continues to bring us closer to tomorrow's plastic. Scientists at Harvard University's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering have developed a new bioplastic made from discarded shrimp shells. Using the remarkably tough yet flexible natural chitin, or insect cuticle, Wyss founding director Don Ingber and postdoctoral fellow Javier Fernandez have created thin films with the same structure and composition as chitin. This plastic is very strong and flexible.

((http://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/five-cutting-edge-architectural-materials-to-watch-in-2016_o))

And that's all! Keep a eye open for these materials!