Art without knowledge is nothing...
(from a Latin quote inscribed on the pediment of Milan Cathedral)
1-Collecting and choosing a small sample. :ex: the tsinggy expedition in Madagascar.
2-Total dehydration: first progressively in rising degrees of alcool, and then with a sudden sublimation using the critical point dryer apparatus
3-Mounting on a stub with carbon sticker and conductive glue, under binocular microscope
4 Metallisation. Adding to it a layer of few nanometers of gold, or gold-palladium, under plasma.
4- Insertion of the stub in the Electron microscope. Adjustment of many parameters.
6-Global exploration of the sample surface at low magnification
7- photographing the magnified detail chosen, by scanning it point by point.
The details photographed are often smaller than the wave length of natural light. Therefore, to make them visible, we do not use photons (as in optical microscopes), but electrons. Electron microscope shows the topography of the sample in black and white. False colours can only be added subjectively, but I don't do that, nor do I modify what I see. I stay as close to the truth as possible.
Always navigating between Art and Science, France Bourély has a passion for all technologies inspired by microscopic structures of life. She gives conferences to show how these life technologies can benefit the engineers in the future.
Phytoplankton emerging from a pore on the skeleton of a Mediterranean sea urchin (paracentrotus lividus).
The function of the numerous pores is to allow the passage of fine locomotor tubes. The whole is covered by the epidermis and spines. The sea urchin test is famous for its magnificent symmetry, and is mainly made of calcite and magnesite. Its shape is effective in distributing pressure evenly over the entire surface. Marine echinoderms can be studied for their many biomimicry applications.
Bee wings beat 200 times per second and their hind wings are smaller than the front ones. To better synchronize, these can attach together with miniature hooks. This mechanism reduces turbulence in flight.
Diatoms are single cell photosynthetic algae. Their glass exosqueleton is very resistant, due to the existence of multiple openings which prevent any cracks from spreading. These micro and nano pores will optimize light harvesting , and allow exchange of nutrients . Diatoms play a major role in ocean’s oxygene production and in fixing carbon. They are an example of a 250 million years old technology and attract interest for many applications in photonics, filtering, drug delivery, biosensors or bio-inspired materials
Detail of the joints of a fly’s pendulum, with the nerve endings -the sensilli- that sense air flow. They facilitate aerial acrobatics, by allowing adjustment of the trajectory in real time. This tiny gyroscope is a model of inspiration for engineers in aerospace, micro-mechanics or robotics.
