Unearthing Genius of Nature

Have you ever wondered how tiny organisms around us could inspire the world’s greatest inventions?

Walking through a lush green garden, with ruffling grass and a ceaseless breeze, have you noticed the crafty spider weaving its web, slime slugs leaving its trail, mosquitoes buzzing, or animals scampering around. Did it ever cross your mind, "How could these organisms inspire new inventions?". 

Have you ever wondered that living organisms that may look trivial and insignificant might be of great importance. A good few intellectual wizards looked beyond the conventional paradigm and made a breakthrough with a novel and an extremely intelligent branch of science, Biomimicry. To solve our problems that require effective solutions, we take inspiration from designs, processes, sustainable systems and strategies present in nature. 

Biomimicry has brought together several interdisciplinary sciences like biology, engineering and environmental science to resolve issues. Biomimicry fosters collaboration and it has worked wonders. 

It helps to find solutions to real life problems because the world is not limited to one subject, we must approach a problem from different perspectives. 

However, one might question, if so effective, why awareness and research is limited in this field? Simply because many educational systems offer single discipline studies making interdisciplinary research difficult to validate and fund. 

Let's get to know some organisms that have proved to be a great asset to us:

Kingfisher: The Japanese bullet train was the fastest train; however, it made a lot of noise while leaving tunnels (tunnel boom). Nakatsu, who is an engineer and a keen bird watcher, observed how a kingfisher dives into water to catch its prey barely making a splash and decided to redesign the front end of the train to resemble the beak of the kingfisher. 

Slime slugs: From something simple as root canal treatment to complex heart surgery, surgeons depend on stitches and surgical glue; however, they increase the chances of infection and moreover do not work effectively in wet environments. To help patients heal better, researchers crafted a super strong adhesive inspired by slime from slimy and slithery garden slugs. 

Mosquito: The proboscis of these pesky insects have inspired a less painful needle to reduce insertion force and tissue deformation. 

Spider: Spider silk is flexible and has five times the tensile strength of steel. Scientists have created advanced materials for medical sutures and bulletproof clothing. By mimicking the unique structure of spider silk, we can create versatile synthetic fibers. The remarkable properties of spider silk have led to developments in safety across various fields. 

As the famous biologist Janine says, "Biomimicry is not just a design discipline; it's a way of seeing the world that inspires us to create solutions that are sustainable and in harmony with nature." Biomimicry is not just copying nature; it is understanding, respecting, and fostering a deeper connection with it. 

Next time you see an insect crawling, a bird flying, or a fish swimming upstream, remember they might hold the key to the next big invention.

References:

1. Benyus, J. M. (1997). Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by nature (Vol. 688136915). New York: Morrow.

2. Kim, J. W., & Yoo, J. W. (2024). Evolution and Characteristics of Biomimicry Architecture since the Modern Era-Focused on the Concept of Janine M. Benyus. Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea, 40(6), 45-56.