Locomotion, Feeding, and Support Systems

The Innovative Structural and Physical Properties of Radiolaria

ABSTRACT The intricate silica skeletons of Radiolaria, a type of marine microorganism, exhibit striking optical fiber-like properties, offering a potential roadmap for future innovations in the optical field. Beyond their applications for photonics, radiolarians are fascinating models for studying buoyancy control. They exhibit a variety of adaptive mechanisms that alter

Vicky Barré, Liora Benzecry, Rhiannon Butler, and Valerie Hung

Analysis of the Survival Mechanisms of Hydra

Abstract This paper aims to get a better understanding of the physical properties of Hydras. It describes the structure of the body of the Hydra as well as its behavior and interactions with its environment, with a focus on physics. Despite its relatively simple nervous system, characterized by a nerve

Jessica Coulson, Magnus Duffy, Ruolin Hu, and Shilong Zheng

The Physical Adaptations Underlying the Tardigrade’s Resistance to Extreme Environmental Conditions

Abstract Although tardigrades were discovered in the late 18th century, they have continued to captivate scientists due to their outstanding resistance to environmental conditions that are lethal to most organisms and that is necessary given their ecological distribution across various environments. Explanations as to the mechanisms underlying this superior resistance

Luccia Jabbour, Eden Karp-Foster, Jeremy Lachance, and Wadi Zahka

Mathematical Models of Diatoms: Understanding Their Complex Shape, Reproduction and Chain Formation

Abstract Apart from physical and chemical solutions used by the diatom for survival, some features of the unicellular microalgae also could be described in mathematics. For instance, the diatom morphology reveals a striking alignment with the golden ratio and fractal geometry. By examining the silica shells of these unicellular algae,

Peter Matthews-Crochetiere, Daniel Ibrahim, Wenan Liao, Cedric Mackay

Life-Sustaining Processes of the Diatom

Abstract The chemical reactions, processes, and mechanisms that occur inside diatoms are key to their ability to survive and dominate the world of microalgae. Through photosynthesis, the diatom can absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide and then convert them into oxygen and glucose with the help of chlorophyll, which is a

Peter Matthews-Crochetiere, Daniel Ibrahim, Wenan Liao, Cedric Mackay

Frustules: Design solutions in Diatoms

Abstract There are many microorganisms in the universe, and they can generally be sorted into three types: prokaryotic, eukaryotic, and acellular. The subject of this paper is a member of the eukaryotic family, and they are commonly present in nature: the diatom. The diatomite which is formed by the death

Peter Matthews-Crochetiere, Daniel Ibrahim, Wenan Liao, Cedric Mackay

The Physical Properties of Fats in Mammals

Abstract Fats play many important roles in the bodies of mammals. With various physical and chemical forms, fats can serve different purposes in different animals. In hibernators, different types of adipose tissues—white and brown adipose tissues—serve separate roles. White adipose tissues serve as general purpose energy storage, while brown adipose

Edward Tong, Josh Negenman, Michelle Sayeh, Milana Farah

How mathematics governs the nature of tentacles

Abstract The tentacle displays a variety of fascinating properties and functions which scientists have attempted to comprehend via mathematical models over the years. In fact, such numerical modeling emphasizes how the appendage has evolved to become optimized for rapid movement, fine-tuned sensation, and skillful predation via its colour-changing abilities. It

Yousif Al Shajlawi, Henry Bain, Charles Barakett, Julianna Bede

Speed, Sense, and Strike: The Biochemistry of Tentacles and their Chemical Interactions with the Environment

Abstract The tentacle has long been a curiosity to scientists for its unique and diverse properties and functions, perhaps since antiquity when Aristotle observed the ability of cephalopods to regenerate lost tentacles and arms. Today, tentacles continue to inspire scientific innovation, such as a biomimetic recognition strategy for capturing and

Yousif Al Shajlawi, Henry Bain, Charles Barakett, and Julianna Bede

Mathematical Space-Filling Models and Applications in Adipose Tissue

Abstract The mechanisms describing how objects occupy space are some of the most fundamental topics of study and can be applied to countless chemical, physical, and biological phenomena. This is a topic that people have sought to understand for millennia, and it remains an integral part of our understanding of

Josh Negenman, Milana Farah, Michelle Sayeh, Edward Tong

A Mathematical Analysis of Animal Horns

Abstract The following essay examines the application of mathematics to biological structures, in particular animal horns. It begins by exploring the evolutionary reasons for ornamental appendages among horned animals. Mathematical computations reveal a relationship between ornament size and “honest advertisement” due to a high cost of having such large appendages.

Lily Trestan, Rachel Jung, Toufic Jrab, Victor Novakov

A Chemical Perspective on the Carapace

Abstract The carapace’s chemical properties are of interest in a lot of scientific research since they provide insight into an organisms’ life cycles and ecological niche. This article presents a few chemical perspectives on carapace, including their evolution, calcification, pigment production, and composition. In the evolution section, the chemical processes

Elisabeth Lawton, Emma Geoffroy, Osandi Hewage & Yitao Sun