Biomimicry is the process of transferring nature’s principles into human technology. Scientists and inventors are increasingly borrowing ideas freely from nature. Why?
Man-made technology will probably never catch up with nature. After all, a car that can travel 70 miles on a single gallon of gas is pretty impressive, but nothing compared with, say, a tiny hummingbird that can fly 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico.
Still, nature made humans such that we can’t help trying.
In this quest for constant innovation, why not take advantage of nature’s tested principles which have been fine tuned for millions of years!
If all this sounds abstract, take a look at these innovative examples of biomimicry.
- Achieving color without pigment: Following the inspiration of the Blue Morpho Butterflies which get their color just from ambient light, IMOD displays have been designed for easier to read screens even in bright sunlight.
- Aerodynamics, Fuel-efficiency and Safety: Despite its funny shape, the angular box fish is surprisingly aerodynamic, and it has proven as an inspiration for Mercedes’ Bionic Car.
- Seaweed secretion wards of bacteria: Compounds have been created that mimic the furanones in seaweed which help prevent bacterial build up. A departure from ‘anti-biotics’ which kill bacteria, this approach simply inhibit bacterial growth.
- Microscopic texture to keep surfaces clean and dry: Inspired by lotus leaves that repel water and dirt from their surface naturally and easily, a class of wet-proof, self-cleaning products are making their way into our lives.
- Getting the sun to work harder for us: Mimicking the translucent polar bear hair that keeps the polar bear warm even in their frigid habitats with little direct sunlight, a translucent polyester fabric has been invented that recreate the effect of solar energy collection.
- Staying sharp with lots of use: Imitating the process of bruxing which rats use to keep their incisors sharp, a new generation of industrial blades have been invented that self-sharpen with each use.
As you can see, Biomimicry is already yielding breakthrough technologies.
In an inspiring talk, Janine Benyus, author of an authoritative book on the subject of Biomimicry (biomimetics, bionics, or bio-inspiration, as it is sometimes called), provides more fascinating examples of this concept.
And because the champion adapters in the natural world are, by definition, those that can survive without destroying the environment that sustains them, biomimicry can contribute to the long-term health of our planet.
Let us hope for more earth-friendly innovation inspired by nature in these coming years.
