Comments on: An insider's look at the feather, a marvel of bioengineering http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: sara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/#comment-5651 sara Sat, 02 Oct 2010 09:51:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/#comment-5651 @Arabian Stallion, some feathers are anchored into the bone, as for primaries of Great Horned Owl or the two most central rectrices of Toucans. I have no quantitative estimates about how much force is required to remove them, but I require pliers, and it causes me to wince. @Ed Yong, I think that the β-keratin is actually at the sub-microscopic level. What I do not like about this paper is the use of the word "filament:" is this meant to be confused with intermediate keratin filaments (smaller by orders of magnitude)? @Arabian Stallion, some feathers are anchored into the bone, as for primaries of Great Horned Owl or the two most central rectrices of Toucans. I have no quantitative estimates about how much force is required to remove them, but I require pliers, and it causes me to wince.

@Ed Yong, I think that the β-keratin is actually at the sub-microscopic level. What I do not like about this paper is the use of the word “filament:” is this meant to be confused with intermediate keratin filaments (smaller by orders of magnitude)?

]]> By: Steve Agostini http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/#comment-5650 Steve Agostini Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:27:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/#comment-5650 Could the structual style of the feather be used on a space elevator cable. Nanotubes are strong enough, but only come in short lengths. Could the structual style of the feather be used on a space elevator cable. Nanotubes are strong enough, but only come in short lengths.

]]> By: Arabian Stallion http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/#comment-5649 Arabian Stallion Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:36:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/#comment-5649 Also, it'd be interesting to see how the rachis are anchored into the body/skin of the bird. Also, it’d be interesting to see how the rachis are anchored into the body/skin of the bird.

]]> By: Arabian Stallion http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/#comment-5648 Arabian Stallion Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:35:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/15/an-insiders-look-at-the-feather-a-marvel-of-bioengineering/#comment-5648 Thanks Ed! As an architect, I find the structure of the feather most fascinating. Obviously, given, their high exposure to wind, the rachis are subject to lots of lateral forces. The staggered arrangement of the 'rings' could help with that. In fact, there's something a little similar in structural engineering of high rise buildings. More here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_(structure)" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_(structure)</a> Thanks Ed!
As an architect, I find the structure of the feather most fascinating. Obviously, given, their high exposure to wind, the rachis are subject to lots of lateral forces. The staggered arrangement of the ‘rings’ could help with that.
In fact, there’s something a little similar in structural engineering of high rise buildings. More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_(structure)

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