Have you heard of 'Biomimicry'?

We humans are one of the most intelligent species to occupy this planet. We learnt to build fires, grow our own food and cook them, heat water, make clothing and cover ourselves, build homes, invent tools to help us work better and faster and the list goes on.

More importantly beyond learning how to meet our basic requirements, we learnt to make art, literature, music; and have the ability to appreciate them. We learn from experiences and adapt; our minds can decode abstract concepts and we use this understanding to improvise and improve the quality of our lives.

All around me I see stunning and confounding creations and technological advancements that leaves me fascinated and intrigued. Think about the inventions of light bulbs, telephones, televisions, cars, planes, computers, mobile phones to name a few. Only humans have the super power to be able to imagine and visualise something and then try bringing it to life. We are master creators. No other species on earth has that ability! To be able to envision something we need to be observant and be able to picture it in vivid details. We need inspiration. Where do we get our inspiration?

All around us we are always seeing nature doing its work. Be it birds migrating for days together for various reasons; marine life showing bioluminescence to hunt prey, defend against predators, find mates; trees growing very tall to handle the precipitation levels of rainforest conditions; plants attracting pollinators with their beautiful flowers and repelling attackers by releasing harmful chemicals; storing water in the leaves and stems to survive desert conditions and having a waxy coating to prevent fungi attack in rainforest conditions. The list of such mesmerising facts is endless.

Humans, through the centuries have learnt a lot from observing nature. Our appreciation of nature and its forms have led us to innovate and develop by impressive imitation of what happens in the plant and animal kingdoms. This emulation is termed as ‘biomimicry’ and this concept has been helping humans develop and advance in various fields especially in design and engineering.

Biomimicry is a fusion of human technological development based on nature's lessons and including them into our strategies, the practices found in nature being used to solve our design and engineering feat challenges. Nature may have a solution to most of our problems and this concept helps in achieving undeniably difficult objectives in a more sustainable fashion.

Some everyday examples of biomimicry. Many of them are so common that we may have never given it a second thought and has been taken for granted.

1. Climbing pads capable of supporting human weight are a mimic of the biomechanics of gecko feet

2. Concept of Bullet train design was inspired by Kingfisher birds. The aerodynamics of the Japanese Bullet train was inspired by the shape of the birds beak

3. The first flying machine heavier than the air from the Wright brothers, in 1903, was inspired by flying pigeons

4. Humpback whales inspired Wind turbines blades

5. Velcro is born from the observation of the hooks implemented by some plants for the propagation of their seeds via animal’s coat. Burr seeds and the pesky way it attaches itself to anything has inspired Velcro

6. The study of shark skin is at the origin of particularly effective swimming suits, as well as a varnish for planes fuselage

7. Woodpeckers inspired shock absorbers

8. Termites teach us how to build sustainable and breathable buildings with passive cooling systems

9. Dolphins taught us how to send underwater signals

10. Beaver inspired wetsuit

and many more.

I never gave it much thought until a few days ago during my routine scroll through of news bulletins led me to this news article about the concept of biomimicry, and it got me hooked. In my pursuit to know more I ended up with time well spent, prolific and useful information and and a never ending admiration and respect for nature. Natural world never seizes to amaze and impress me. If this article can inspire a handful of people to exhibit a little bit more appreciation towards nature and all forms of life, then my time is well spent.

References

Read more about the concept of biomimicry

https://biomimicry.org/what-is-biomimicry/

https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-what-is-biomimicry-definition-examples/

Suggested read

Read the below news article published in CNBC a few days back which talks about how mangroves colonizing empty coastal areas because of their ability to desalinate water among other things. Mimicking this process has led to the desalination project on the Greek island of Tinos.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/16/trains-desalination-plants-nature-is-inspiring-radical-designs-.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30119330

If you would rather watch a video on the same topic go to the below links; a three part series

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/16/natures-influence-on-design-part-one.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/16/natures-influence-on-design-part-two.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/16/natures-influence-on-design-part-three.html

Our very own IIT Madras is now offering a course on Biomimicry as published in the Hindu news

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/iit-madras-to-offer-a-course-on-biomimicry/article32321281.ece