Researchers from National Tsing Hua University yesterday presented the results of their latest research on biological and bio-inspired materials to the National Science Council, which showed that the study of biomaterials could have invaluable applications, such as by mimicking the texture of shark skin to develop bacteria-resistant surface materials.
Chen Po-yu (陳柏宇), an assistant professor in the school’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said that with intensive analysis of biological materials, materials science and engineering researchers are able to mimick the natural biomaterials’ characteristics to synthesize new materials or improve existing ones to fulfil specific needs.
Citing as an example the structure of the large, but lightweight, beak of toucans inspiring work on aviation materials, or the mimicking of the structure of sponges to produce softer glass, Chen said there was great promise in looking to the natural world for solutions to modern society’s needs.
Chen said that the university is also conducting research on how to produce bacteria-resistant surface materials by mimicking the structure and characteristics of shark skin and lotus flowers.
In addition, he said that the school’s research on abalone shells has shown that although the main component of the shells — calcium carbonate — is the same as that found in chalk, the shell’s texture is much tougher because of its unique multilayer structure and other substances that are mixed into it. These findings could lead to breakthrough inventions in the synthesis of protective materials.
Duh Jenq-Gong (杜正恭), a chair professor from the same department, said that in contrast to some of the earlier methods employed in materials science and engineering research, such as trying to produce tougher materials by combining various non-organic substances, studying natural biomaterials and structures has given researchers a new perspective.
Meanwhile, university president Chen Lih-juann (陳力俊) commended Chen Po-yu for having been invited to co-write a paper on structural biological materials by the internationally renowned Science magazine.
Chen Po-yu may be the first Taiwanese professor to have been received such an honor, he said.
The research paper, titled Structural Biological Materials: Critical Mechanics-Materials Connections was published in February.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 7pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter of the temblor was at sea, about 69.9km south of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 30.9km, it said. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The earthquake’s intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was highest in Taitung County’s Changbin Township (長濱), where it measured 5 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 4 in Hualien, Nantou, Chiayi, Yunlin, Changhua and Miaoli counties, as well as
Credit departments of farmers’ and fishers’ associations blocked a total of more than NT$180 million (US$6.01 million) from being lost to scams last year, National Police Agency (NPA) data showed. The Agricultural Finance Agency (AFA) said last week that staff of farmers’ and fishers’ associations’ credit departments are required to implement fraud prevention measures when they serve clients at the counter. They would ask clients about personal financial management activities whenever they suspect there might be a fraud situation, and would immediately report the incident to local authorities, which would send police officers to the site to help, it said. NPA data showed
ENERGY RESILIENCE: Although Alaska is open for investments, Taiwan is sourcing its gas from the Middle East, and the sea routes carry risks, Ho Cheng-hui said US government officials’ high-profile reception of a Taiwanese representative at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference indicated the emergence of an Indo-Pacific energy resilience alliance, an academic said. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安) attended the conference in Alaska on Thursday last week at the invitation of the US government. Pan visited oil and gas facilities with senior US officials, including US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and US Senator Daniel Sullivan. Pan attending the conference on behalf of President William Lai (賴清德) shows a significant elevation in diplomatic representation,
The Taipei MRT is to begin accepting mobile payment services in the fall, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said on Saturday. When the company finishes the installation of new payment units at ticketing gates in October, MRT passengers can use credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, the operator said. In addition, the MRT would also provide QR payment codes — which would be compatible with Line Pay, Jkopay, iPass Money, PXPay Plus, EasyWallet, iCash Pay, Taiwan Pay and Taishin Pay — to access the railway system. Currently, passengers can access the Taipei MRT by buying a single-journey token or using EasyCard,
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