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Researchers develop flow sensors that mimic blind fish

This video shows how the researchers created the synthetic cupula in the laboratory. A solution of poly(ethylene glycol) tetraacrylate was dissolved in methanol directly on the hair flow sensor. Once the droplet dried, another droplet was lowered until it made contact with the last drop and droplets were added until a tall hydrogel structure was constructed. Once the entire cupula structure dried, it was exposed to ultraviolet light to crosslink it, forming a three-dimensional network (c) Michael McConney

Tags: blind, cavefish, cell, cupula, detection, droplet, fish, hair, hydrogel, marine, microscopy, microsensor, sensor, synthetic, underwater

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Researchers develop flow sensors that mimic blind fish
— 24 March 2009 16:26 GMT | Technology

A blind fish that has evolved a unique technique for sensing motion may inspire a new generation of sensors that perform better than current active sonar. Although members of the fish species Astyanax fasciatus cannot see, they sense their environment and the movement of water around them with gel-covered hairs that extend from their bodies. Their ability to detect underwater objects and navigate through their lightless environment inspired a group of researchers to mimic the hairs of these blind cavefish in the laboratory…