Biomimicry – Imitating Nature’s Design

Inspired Innovation Through Biomimicry Design

Biomimicry-Imitating Nature's Design

This was a new one on me… but, biomimicry design really makes a lot of sense. 

I found a definition of biomimicry that even I can understand (courtesy of  asktheplanetcd.org/what_is_biomimicry.html)… “the process of learning from and then emulating Nature’s genius to create more sustainable designs. It’s studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell or studying an electric eel to make a better battery.

 ’Biomimicry introduces an era based not on what we can extract from the natural world, but what we can learn from it.’ Janine Benyus, author Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature.” * The following guest article has some good examples…

Image courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/sitemarca/3852668912/

Looking To Nature For Inspiration: The Study of Biomimicry

The process of transferring nature’s principles into technology is called biomimicry. Scientists and inventors are increasingly borrowing ideas freely from nature. Why?

Man-made technology will probably never catch up with nature. If a car traveling 70 miles on a single gallon of gas is impressive, just look to what a tiny hummingbird can do – it can fly 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico!

Our very nature as humans still make us try, incessantly, to innovate, to build better things.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Janine Benyus, published authoritative book on the subject of Biomimicry (biomimetics, bionics, or bio-inspiration, as it is sometimes called).

If this isn’t fascinating enough, consider this: Champion adapters in the natural world are those that survive without destroying the environment that sustains them. Mimicking them can only contribute to the long-term health of our planet!

Let us hope for more earth-friendly innovation inspired by nature in these coming years.

UPDATE… Although the above article’s 3 links are no longer valid, the article itself definitely is. If any of you viewers know the source, please contact us so we can update the article.

* Disclaimer… if a viewer purchases this book through this link, I will earn a commission.