Woodpecker and black box

Woodpecker and black box

A bird’s remarkable skull and the quest to protect aeroplane flight data recorders from damage caused by high impacts. Woodpeckers can hammer repeatedly on trees without damaging their brain. Could this lead to new designs for black boxes and bicycle helmets? With Patrick Aryee. www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30animals

Jaksot(63)

Albatross and drone

Albatross and drone

Imagine a drone that can fly like the Wandering Albatross. The huge bird harnesses power from the wind and sun and glides over the sea. It is extraordinary. And an engineer has designed a robotic glid...

24 Kesä 201914min

Stenocara beetle and water collector

Stenocara beetle and water collector

It performs headstands in a desert; now this beetle is teaching us how to collect water. The Stenocara beetle survives in one of the most arid places in the world – the Namib Desert in southern Africa...

17 Kesä 201912min

Sea otter and wetsuit

Sea otter and wetsuit

Want a warm and waterproof wetsuit? Then take a look at how the sea otter does it! It’s all down to air-trapping hairs. Ideally, surfers want something that is flexible and easy to wear, which sheds ...

10 Kesä 201913min

Desert spider and Mars robot

Desert spider and Mars robot

The cartwheeling spider acrobat that could help us explore Mars. This is no ordinary spider and it has led to an extraordinary robot design, perfect for space exploration. With Patrick Aryee. www.b...

3 Kesä 201914min

Cod and antifreeze

Cod and antifreeze

Fish living in sub-zero waters are inspiring ways to de-ice planes and store ice cream. Arctic and Atlantic cod and also snow fleas are able to live at temperatures which would normally freeze human b...

27 Touko 201914min

Termite and ventilation system

Termite and ventilation system

A building which heats and cools itself? How was that possible? Termites had the answer. The insects circulate air around their homes or mounds and regulate the temperature inside. They inspired an ar...

20 Touko 201916min

Mussel and plywood

Mussel and plywood

How a trip to the seaside led to the development of a glue and a formaldehyde-free plywood. When a scientist called Kaichang Li had trouble pulling mussels off a rock, he decided to investigate their ...

13 Touko 201914min

Firefly and lightbulb

Firefly and lightbulb

The secrets of a firefly’s glow could help us brighten our lives and create more energy efficient lighting. See our animation: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals Male fireflies attract mates by produci...

6 Touko 201911min