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Humans gills inspired by diving beetles
MSNBC.com ^
| 9-15-06
| Charles Q. Choi
Posted on 09/18/2006 8:25:23 AM PDT by CapnBarbosa
Scientists in England investigated super-water-repellant surfaces. These possess infinitesimally tiny structures that rise like trees in a forest, on which water droplets rest. The structures trap air between the surface they jut up from and the water on top of them.
Insects and spiders usually drown when submerged. However, aquatic insects such as the great diving beetle Dytiscus marginalis possess rigid hairs
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
TOPICS: Technical
KEYWORDS: gills; science
This sounds like a clever idea. I'm glad there are still people out there dreaming up useful things.
To: CapnBarbosa
ooooh, sign me up for the beta version!
2
posted on
09/18/2006 8:27:28 AM PDT
by
verum ago
(To the UN:Diplomacy is useful only when backed by the threat of swift, merciless, and violent death.)
To: CapnBarbosa
3
posted on
09/18/2006 8:31:52 AM PDT
by
isthisnickcool
(Don't worry, everything will be OK. Or maybe it won't.)
To: CapnBarbosa
Sounds like a possible replacement for the aqua lung... in a few years.
To: CapnBarbosa
Reminds me of that little mouthpiece that Qui Gon and Kenobi used in Star Wars, Episode I.
That would be way cool.
5
posted on
09/18/2006 8:53:13 AM PDT
by
mattdono
(150 Million bloodthirsty Arabs vs. 4.8 Million Jewish Israelis. That's not fair. [Off Sarcasm])
To: taxcontrol
Sounds like a possible replacement for the aqua lung... in a few years.Not if it requires 970 sqft of surface area per person and notice that they already are ruling out space saving ideas like corrugation.
If you really want a high tech SCUBA apparatus that will let you stay down for hours, there are rebreathers.
To: elmer fudd
Right, but I was thinking a combination rebreather combined with a smaller application of this device. Say 100 sq ft to extract 10% of the oxygen a person needs. Then combined with a rebreather.....?????
Who knows what the future may hold. Actually, I think a better use would be to find a way to scrub CO2 from the air and diffuse into the water.
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