Australian Science Illustrated – Issue 51 2017

1

From their central position, the turbine

wings can move 40 degrees to either

side thanks to the flexible hinges.

2

Flapping up and rotating, the wing

follows a figure eight pattern.

3

The figure eight pattern allows the

wind to flow optimally around the wing,

ensuring optimum wind energy generation.

4

The flapping wings attach to gears,

and generate energy in the turbine.

Flapping winds harvest

wind energy

The wings are mounted on flexible

hinges, allowing the turbine to harvest

energy, as the wings flap up and down

like a bird’s.

1

2

3

40 ̊

4

FLEXIBLE

HINGE

MEDICINE Swedish scientists have grown
spider silk reminiscent of the real thing, which
is flexible, super strong, and biodegradable.
The scientific break-through came, when the
scientists combined silk genes from two
different spider species, and loaded the genes
into bacteria which mass-produce the silk
proteins. The artificial spider web has huge
potential. It can be used for wound suture,
repairing and splicing
injured nerves, and
for producing new
types of lightweight
and durable
packaging. Best of all,
it's not plastic.

ASTRONOMY According to

an analysis of a rare meteorite

from Mars, the Red Planet is

home to a volcano which

remained active over two billion

years, making it the oldest in

the Solar System.

Geologists have analysed the

make-up of isotopes in a 200 g

Martian meteorite discovered in

Algeria in 2012. The meteorite

was ejected into space after an

asteroid impact in a volcano or

in a lava field about one million

years ago, eventually ending up

on Earth. Scientists have

discovered a total of 11

meteorites with the same

chemical make-up, indicating

that they are from the same

Martian volcano. The youngest

of the other meteorites is only

327 million years old, whereas

the meteorite from Algeria is 2.

billion years old. That means an

age span of about two billion

years – and at least two billion

years of volcanic activity on Mars.

Scientists produce artificial spider web

Scientists have made bacteria produce a super strong

and flexible silk with many possible uses.

A 2.4-billion-year-old meteorite

indicates that Mars has been

volcanically active for 2 billion years.

2117

The United Arab Emirates

believes that by this date, it

will have designed, launched

and successfully established

a colony on Mars.

Mars has the

Solar System’s

oldest volcano

LENA HOLM/SWEDISH UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

Artificial spider web can

absorb lots of energy and

stretch without bursting

making it an ideal material

for car airbags.

ENCYCLOPEDIA

Editor: Karine Kirkebæk

5 MM

TYER WIND, SHUTTERSTOCK & CLAUS LUNAU

scienceillustrated.com.au | 11