Beatnic - just wondering » ideas http://www.beatnic.co.uk Questions and observations from Nic Price. Curious about how things work and what it's like to use them. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:40:42 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Expect cycles http://www.beatnic.co.uk/2011/10/17/expect-cycles/ http://www.beatnic.co.uk/2011/10/17/expect-cycles/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:44:28 +0000 Nic Price http://www.beatnic.co.uk/?p=1484 Expect cycles
Expect cycles

An idea for a road sign, following the news that “Except cycles” signs have been given the go ahead (see article on LCC website for further info).

 

 

]]> http://www.beatnic.co.uk/2011/10/17/expect-cycles/feed/ 0 How would a butterfly inspire your next design? http://www.beatnic.co.uk/2009/07/22/how-would-a-butterfly-inspire-your-next-design/ http://www.beatnic.co.uk/2009/07/22/how-would-a-butterfly-inspire-your-next-design/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:17:52 +0000 Nic Price http://www.beatnic.co.uk/?p=777 Continue reading →]]> That’s the question currently on the homepage of Ask Nature, a new web-based resource which catalogues the many ways we can learn from nature when we’re trying to solve problems. The project is run by the Biomimicry Institute.

The site was announced this morning at TED Global in Oxford.

Here’s an excerpt:

Anchors of bull kelp protect it from torque by being flexible.

“Kelp’s survival depends on flexibility and extensibility. Each alga can grow up to 20 to 45 m (22 to 49 yd) long and consists of a holdfast, stipe, float, and fronds. The holdfast uses a flexible network of root-like haptera or anchors to attach the kelp to the ocean floor. By being flexible, the haptera allow the kelp’s base to rotate slightly, thus providing some protection from the high torque created by waves.” (Biomimicry Guild unpublished report) [read Bull Kelp article]

Hot from the online edit suite… you can also watch Gordon Brown’s speech at TED Global. The comments make interesting reading.

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