Biomimicry

Photo Credit: FLOWE

Biomimicry-We already know that nature is full of wonders, but did you know that a branch of scientific research called Biomimicry is working towards creating solutions to human challenges by emulating designs and ideas found in nature? Given that humans are terrestrial creatures, there is a lot to be learned from organisms big and small that spend a portion or their entire lives in the water.

Here are some recent breakthroughs in the discipline of Biomimicry:

1. Wind Turbines Inspired by Schools of Fish As fish swim, they shed tiny masses of whirling water (or vortices). In large schools of fish, individuals transfer energy to each other with these vortices, lowering the energetic costs of swimming. Researcher John Dabiri has taken inspiration from this strategy and applied similar principles to the spatial design of wind farms. By placing vertical turbines (different from the traditional propeller-style turbines) close together in a strategic way, energy is gathered by each turbine while simultaneously directing wind to nearby turbines. One of the largest issue facing wind farms is the space required for propeller-style turbines to function properly. FLOWE’s vertical turbine design demands less space to operate.

2. Caddisfly Silk to Help in the Operating Room Many of our members have designed a lure or two or spent time rolling rocks in a river and may already be familiar with the aquatic larval stage of the caddisfly. Caddisfly larvae use surrounding materials like sand, pieces of leaves and bark to make a tube-shape casing, held together with a natural sticky silk they produce. What makes this unique is that the silk is sticky when wet, something scientists have yet to perfect. Recreating this natural silk could be used in the medical field as it would be like using a piece of tape to close an incision instead of stitches in surgical procedures. Caddisflies have been gluing things underwater for 150-200 million years so there is much to be learned from what evolution has perfected.

For more information on other cool Biomimicry, discoveries check out the Biomimicry Institute or books such as The Shark’s Paintbrush by Jay Harman and Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine M. Benyus.