Architecture

When you think architecture, you’re probably thinking blueprints, slide rules, maybe a compass or something, I don’t know. But it turns out some of our animal brethren can hold their own when it comes to building stuff, and they don’t have any of those fancy tools! They have, like, their mouths!

Follow us on Twitter @SciShowTangents, where we’ll tweet out topics for upcoming episodes and you can ask the science couch questions! 

While you're at it, check out the Tangents crew on Twitter: Stefan: @itsmestefanchin Ceri: @ceriley Sam: @slamschultz Hank: @hankgreen

If you want to learn more about any of our main topics, check out these links:

[Truth or Fail]

Blinds: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171130122759.htm

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.201703653

Algae: https://earthbuddies.net/algae-curtain/

Electric Bacteria: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/electric-bacteria-create-currents-out-thin-and-thick-air#:~:text=Generating%20electricity%20from%20thin%20air,there's%20moisture%20in%20the%20air.

[Fact Off]

Crystal in hornet nests

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2001/06/mystery-hornets-nest 

https://geology.com/minerals/ilmenite.shtml 

https://www.nature.com/articles/35079679 

https://books.google.com/books?id=If229i4wRQEC&pg=PA25 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jemt.20168 

Neolamprologus obscurus burrows

https://www.popsci.com/fish-teamwork-snare-shrimp/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-018-2566-7

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180306101713.htm

[Ask the Science Couch]

Concrete & environmental impacts

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46455844

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/25/concrete-the-most-destructive-material-on-earth

https://constructionclimatechallenge.com/2016/07/07/green-building-materials-that-are-alternatives-to-concrete/

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/mar/04/making-concrete-green-reinventing-the-worlds-most-used-synthetic-material

https://www.ny-engineers.com/blog/how-can-concrete-construction-be-greener 

[Butt One More Thing]

Japanese transparent public toilet

https://www.dezeen.com/2020/08/17/shigeru-ban-transparent-toyko-toilet-shibuya 

https://tokyotoilet.jp/en/