# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Not finding what you're looking for? A few suggestions:
* Fewer words might give better results. Look up cats instead of funny cats.
* No need to search with the words videos or for kids included.
* Use related words: If searching for iceberg isn't working, try ice or glacier.
* Is everything spelled correctly?
* Browsing topics might help, too!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
biomimicry Archives - The Kid Should See This

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Not finding what you're looking for? A few suggestions:* Fewer words might give better results. Look up cats instead of funny cats.* No need to search with the words videos or for kids included.* Use related words: If searching for iceberg isn't working, try ice or glacier.* Is everything spelled correctly?* Browsing topics might help, too!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Robotic arm inspired by the Elephant trunk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Nature Does It Better: Biomimicry in Architecture and Engineering

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The most important convergence of design and biological sciences today relies on "innovation" that's millions, if not billions, of years old. Biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems; biomimicry in architecture and manufacturing is the practice of designing buildings and products that ...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Biomimicry (explained with drawings & examples)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
U.S. Navy Developing Hagfish Slime Defenses

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sometimes the best solution to a problem isn't alway the most complex, and, similarly, the best answer isn't always a new one one. While us humans may just be getting our feet wet (relatively speaking) with ingenuity, the animal kingdom has millennia of evolutionary trial-and-error to learn from.

Biomimicry, as it's called, is a method for creating solutions to human challenges by emulating designs and ideas found in nature. It's used everywhere: buildings, vehicles, and even materials - so we thought it'd be fun to round up a few of the most noteworthy examples. Here are eight of the most astounding technological applications inspired by nature.

Bullet trains inspired by Kingfisher birds

When Japanese engineers took on the daunting task of upgrading their high-speed bullet trains their design hit one unfortunate snag. The problem wasn't getting this trains up to the desired speeds, but rather the massive amount of noise created by the displacement of air ahead of the trains. As the trains entered tunnels, the vehicles would often create a loud shock wave known as "tunnel boom." The power of the shock waves even caused structural damage to several tunnels.

The design team determined the culprit to be the trains rather blunt front nose cap. To minimize the tunnel boom and increase overall aerodynamics they would need a more streamlined nose. The engineers eventually modeled the next model after the beak of the Kingfisher bird.

Kingfisher birds have specialized beaks allowing them to dive into water to hunt while making a minimal splash. Utilizing this new nose, the next generation 500 series trains were 10 percent faster, consumed 15 percent less electricity, and, most importantly, no more "boom."

Wind turbines modeled after Humpback whales

Many of our modern aerodynamic designs rely on rather basic principles. To obtain optimal lift and minimal drag, sleek edges and clean lines are key. However, throughout the animal kingdom, many species, capable of exceptional lift. The Humpback whale, for example, uses bumpy, tubercle fins for propulsion - which seems rather counterintuitive.

A Harvard led research team determined that these nodules, enable the whales to choose a steeper " angle of attack." The angle of attack is the angle between the flow of water and the face of the flipper. With Humpback whales, this attack angle can be up to 40 percent steeper than a smooth flipper. Due to these small ridges, sectional stalls occur at different points along the fin. This makes a full on stall much easier to avoid.

Tests conducted by the U.S. Naval Academy, using model flippers, determined these biomimetic fins reduced drag by nearly a third and improved lift by eight percent overall. Whale Power, a company based in Toronto, Canada has already capitalized on this latest tubercle tech. According to MIT, Whale Power's biomimetic blades help generate the "same amount of power at 10 miles per hour that conventional turbines generate at 17 miles per hour."

Antimicrobial film mimicking sharkskin

Sharks are one of the apex predators of the seas. Their hunting prowess has been fine-tuned over millennia of evolution. While sharks are well known for their acute sense of smell and regenerating teeth, new research may actually point to the species' skin as its most evolutionary niche asset.

Sharkskin is covered with so-called "dermal denticles." Think of these as essentially flexible layers of small teeth. When in motion, these dermal denticles actually create a low-pressure zone. This leading edge vortex essentially "pulls" the shark forward and also helps to reduce drag. Needless to say, there are plenty of applications for such a design.

Speedo notoriously incorporated biomimetic sharkskin into a line of swimsuits for the 2008 Olympics. According to the Smithsonian, 98 percent of the medals at the 2008 Olympics were won by swimmers wearing this sharkskin swimwear. Since then the technology has been banned in Olympic competition.

Similarly, while many aquatic species are known to host other marines species on their bodies (such as barnacles) sharks remain relatively "clean" so to speak. These microscopic dermal denticles also help sharks fend-off micro organisms. The U.S. Navy has since developed a material, known as Sharklet, based on this skin pattern to help inhibit marine growth on ships. Based on this same idea, many hospitals are also using a biomimetic sharkskin film to combat cross-contamination.

Sharkskin, so hot right now.

Harvesting water like the Stenocara beetle

It's really no secret at this juncture: access to water is pivotal to any sustainable civilization and life on this planet in general. While some locations on the globe have bountiful water resources such as lakes and rivers, more arid climates must make do with limited precipitation. Technology derived from a beetle thriving in one of the harshest environments on Earth may very well help start the next generation of clean water harvesting.

The Stenocara beetle lives in the arid African Namib dessert, but the dime-sized critter has an evolutionary hack to help it literally pull water out of literal thin air. A pattern of nodes along the beetle's back enable the creature to collect moisture from the morning fog. The droplets then slide off the bumps into small channels towards the beetle's mouth. Academics are currently using this research to develop biomimetic patterns capable of harvesting water from the air.

Absorbing shock like a woodpecker

Woodpeckers are known for their exceptional excavating capacity. The creatures use their beaks to forage for insects and also to create nooks for themselves. As woodpeckers bore these holes, they experience a deceleration of 1200 gravitational pulls (Gs) nearly 22 times per second. To put that in perspective, a severe car crash would deliver the equivalent of 120 Gs on a passenger. Just how does the woodpecker withstand these perpetual jolts?

The answer: natural shock absorbers. Using video and CT scans, researched at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered that woodpeckers have four structures designed to absorb mechanical shock. The bird's semi-elastic beak, an area of " spongy bone " material behind the skull, and cerebrospinal fluid all work in unison to extend the time over which this concussion occurs and therefore inhibiting vibration. Based on this multifaceted design, the team is working to create an array applications ranging from more shock-resistant flight recorders (black boxes) to micrometeorite-resistant spacecrafts.

Cephalopod camouflage

Squids, like all cephalopods, are capable of glowing (bioluminescence) as well as changing their skin color. This camouflaging capacity enables them to hide from predators while the bioluminescence allows them to communicate with and/or attract a mate. This complex behavior is produced by a network specialized skin cells and muscles.

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a similar device capable of detecting its surrounds and matching this environment in mere seconds. This early prototype uses a flexible, pixelated grid utilizing actuators, light sensors, and reflectors. As the light sensors detect a a change in the surroundings, a signal is sent to the corresponding diode. This creates heat in the area and the thermochromatic grid then changes color. This artificial "skin" could have both military and commercial applications down the road.

Ventilation systems inspired by termites

Oftentimes, biomimicry isn't simply about mimicking an anatomical or evolutionary niche of a species. Sometimes, we can even take cues from the structures these animals build to create better life support systems for ourselves.

Termites often get a bad rap because of their destructive properties. However, termites are infamous for creating some of the most elaborate ventilation systems for cooling on the planet. Even in some of the hottest places, these termite mounds, remain exceptionally cool inside.

Using an intricate network of intentionally air pockets, the mounds create a natural ventilation system using convection. The engineering firm Arup built an entire shopping center in Zimbabwe based on this natural convection system. Currently the system uses 10 percent less energy than a traditional air-conditioned facility.

Editors' Recommendations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Here's 7 of the Best Examples of Biomimicry and Nature-Inspired Design | Digital Trends

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many of our technological innovations have been based on natural design properties. Here are the seven best technologies inspired by the animal kingdom.

# data[].attributes.body
Biomimicry Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For all the challenges we face, nature has a solution.

Biomimicry offers an empathetic, interconnected understanding of how life works and ultimately where we fit in. It is a practice that learns from and mimics the strategies used by species alive today. After billions years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what remains hold the secret to our survival. The goal is to create products, processes, and systems-new ways of living-that solve our greatest design challenges sustainably and in solidarity with all life on earth. We can use biomimicry to not only learn from nature's wisdom, but also heal ourselves-and this planet-in the process.

Biomimicry provides the blueprints that can be adapted across context, industries, and be scalable to address the needs. See examples of biomimicry in action.

The 3 Essential Elements of Biomimicry

When translating nature's strategies into design, the science of the practice involves three essential elements: Emulate, Ethos, and (Re)Connect. These three components are infused in every aspect of biomimicry and represent these core values at its essence.
Emulate
The scientific, research-based practice of learning from and then replicating nature's forms, processes, and ecosystems to create more regenerative designs.
Ethos
The philosophy of understanding how life works and creating designs that continuously support and create conditions conducive to life.
(Re)Connect
The concept that we are nature and find value in connecting to our place on Earth as part of life's interconnected systems. (Re)Connect as a practice encourages us to observe and spend time in nature to understand how life works so that we may have a better ethos to emulate biological strategies in our designs.

Why learn from nature?

We have the innate potential to create a world that is harmonious, regenerative, and supports the well-being of all Life. As a young species, we are fortunate enough to have guidance to help us rise to this challenge. Our planet-mates, the fantastic meshwork of plants, animals, and microbes, have done billions of years of research and development. By infusing biological strategies in design, we can transform sustainable innovation.

Biomimicry brings relief.

We're stressed. Our planet is stressed. Many are losing hope for solving the climate crisis and its many negative effects on ecosystems across the world. Biomimicry gives us hope, because we know the solutions are here, accessible, and validated by the many species contributing to their ecosystems today. By using nature as our mentor, we experience the powerful healing effects it has by connecting to the natural world-while also finding empowering relief to solve these challenges together.

Biomimicry gets us to sustainable solutions, faster.

Our R&D cycles are slow, and climate change won't wait-we must look to the biological blueprints that have been successful over millennia to launch groundbreaking ideas, faster. We don't need to reinvent the strategies that are already here. We just need to learn how to adapt them. We believe the next generation wants to help solve these problems-they don't just want to protest. We can equip learners of all ages to see science as a vehicle for addressing access and equity, building literacy and mathematical skills, and for sense-making about their place in the world.

Biomimicry is generous.

Circularity, sustainability, regenerative design-it means that the things we humans make become a force for restoring air, water, and soil instead of degrading it. Nature uses structure to perform functions and passive forms of energy, whereas our inventions have typically used brute force, like mining ancient carbon and harmful chemicals. We can create conditions conducive to life, just like nature does. Everything we do must model how nature offers reciprocity and abundance for a diversity of life to flourish.

Biomimicry changes the lens in which we view the world.

Innovators turn to biomimicry with the hope of achieving a unique product that is efficient and effective, but they often gain a deep appreciation of and connection to the natural world. Biomimicry encourages conservation for ecosystems and its inhabitants, because they hold the knowledge we need to survive and thrive. When we view the world as deeply interconnected, we gain empathy and better knowledge on how to make decisions that invites a global collaboration that supports the future of all species.

Biomimicry is one type of bioinspired design, but not all bioinspired design is biomimicry.

"Bioinspired design" is a term that is generally accepted as an umbrella category for design and engineering approaches, including biomimicry, that use biology as a resource for solutions. While biomimicry is a type of bioinspired design, not all bioinspired design is biomimicry. An important factor that differentiates biomimicry from other bio-inspired design approaches is the emphasis on learning from and emulating the regenerative solutions living systems have for specific functional challenges.

Within the family of bioinspired design, a common misunderstanding that we encounter is mistaking biomorphism for biomimicry. Biomorphism refers to designs that visually resemble elements from life (they "look like" nature), whereas biomimetic designs focus on function (they "work like" nature). Biomorphic designs can be very beautiful and beneficial, in part because humans have a natural affinity for nature and natural forms. But it's important to realize that "looking like" nature is not a reliable indicator of biomimetic design because a biomimetic design might or might not look anything like the organisms that inspired it. Rather, the important indicator is function.

A similar point of confusion occurs between bioutilization and biomimicry. Bioutilization refers to the use of biological material or living organisms in a design or technology. For example, using trees as a material (wood) for furniture or a living wall of plants to help clean the air in an office building is bioutilization. Bioutilization can be beneficial-organisms can do a lot of things we can't-and biomimetic designs sometimes incorporate bioutilization for this reason. However, just because a designer consults a living organism for a solution to a problem or uses a natural material, it does not mean the design is biomimetic. The distinctive feature of biomimicry is the study and emulation of functional strategies to create sustainable solutions that also embody the (re)connect and ethos elements.

Read more about differentiating biomimicry from other similar disciplines here:

Discover nature's solutions and genius through books, articles, videos, lesson plans, groups, training programs, and more, and the ideas they've inspired with this powerful, free online tool.

This free resource introduces a set of biomimicry tools and core concepts that can help problem-solvers from any discipline begin to incorporate insights from nature into their solutions.

Explore solutions inspired by nature, including water, energy, agricultural, public health, and carbon capture solutions, developed by current and past program participants.

What might you learn after 30 days of observing and learning from the natural world? Explore some of our favorite biomimicry activities that can be done virtually or outside in nature.

Nature Inspired Solutions to Minimize Food Waste.

Enabling Precision Recovery of Resources from Nature.

Redesigning Textiles for a Circular Economy.

Allowing Nature to Lead Innovation, Revolutionize Construction, and Create Sustainably-Built Environments.

We will use the information to be in touch with you via email. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any message you receive from us. Learn more about our privacy practices here.

Support the Next Generation
of Nature-Inspired Innovators

Imagine a world where everything we make is inspired by the natural world. By supporting the Biomimicry Institute you:

Help bring biomimicry education to more students and educators

Accelerate the growth of more nature-inspired startups and entrepreneurs

Increase the number of biological strategies and resources on AskNature.org and across our entire organization.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Is Biomimicry? - Biomimicry Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Biomimicry is a practice that learns from and mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges-and find hope.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Surrounded by Genius: Nature’s Take on Engineering

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Biomimicry 3.8 - Innovation Inspired by Nature

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Biomimicry 3.8 is the world's leading bio-inspired consultancy offering biological intelligence consulting, professional training, and inspiration.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Biomimicry is more than just good design.