scientists have concluded that the intestines are naturally occurring Tesla valves. "It's high time that some modern technology was used to look at these really amazing spiral intestines of sharks ...

Inspired by that study, postdoctoral researcher Ido Levin and colleagues at the University of Washington set out to replicate the spiral valve's one-way functionality in rigid 3D-printed pipes.

Scientists at the University of Washington have re-created the distinctive spiral shapes ... the rigid printed pipes produced flow asymmetries that matched or exceeded Tesla valves.

A Tesla valve (above) creates one-way flow without backflow or moving parts. A shark’s spiral intestine (below) has a similar structure. Samantha Leigh / California State University, Dominguez ...

might perform even better as Tesla valves. They 3D-printed a second series of prototypes made from the softest polymer that is both printable and commercially available. These flexible pipe ...

might perform even better as Tesla valves. They 3D-printed a second series of prototypes made from the softest polymer that is both printable and commercially available. These flexible pipe ...

Sharks’ spiral intestines come in four flavors ... In fact, the shape of the funnel intestine recalls the loops of the Tesla valve, a kind of pipe patented by the Serbian-American inventor.