BioAudio

Evolution inspires technology - of bird legs and heat pumps

November 29, 2023 Elizabeth Clare Season 1 Episode 20
Evolution inspires technology - of bird legs and heat pumps
BioAudio
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BioAudio
Evolution inspires technology - of bird legs and heat pumps
Nov 29, 2023 Season 1 Episode 20
Elizabeth Clare

In the final episode of this season of the BioAudio podcast we talk about counter current exchange - a low energy system used by birds, fish, diving mammals etc. to recycle heat, move oxygen out of water and into blood and even make it possible to drink salt water. But the same system is used in industry, most recently in the news in heat pumps which move heat along gradients to both heat and cool your home. Inside a heat pump is a clever counter current exchange system which sounds a lot like the legs of a bird legs. We'll compare these two technologies - it's evolution in parallel with climate saving technology on the BioAudio podcast. Thanks to Dr. Kevin Kerr, Silas Barrette and Dr. Leif Einarson. 

Show Notes

In the final episode of this season of the BioAudio podcast we talk about counter current exchange - a low energy system used by birds, fish, diving mammals etc. to recycle heat, move oxygen out of water and into blood and even make it possible to drink salt water. But the same system is used in industry, most recently in the news in heat pumps which move heat along gradients to both heat and cool your home. Inside a heat pump is a clever counter current exchange system which sounds a lot like the legs of a bird legs. We'll compare these two technologies - it's evolution in parallel with climate saving technology on the BioAudio podcast. Thanks to Dr. Kevin Kerr, Silas Barrette and Dr. Leif Einarson.