Biomimicry is a relatively new science that studies nature, her models, systems, processes and elements and then imitates
or takes creative inspiration from them to solve human problems.
In the 1997 book, "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature", Janine M. Benyus
introduces us to this concept, examples, and why its important now. She points out that, "Our planet-mates (plants, animals and
microbes) have been patiently perfecting their wares for more than 3.8 billion years . . . turning rock and sea into a
life-friendly home. What better models could there be?"
The author goes on to list numerous examples of men and women who are studying some of nature's most wonderous achievements
including photosynthesis, natural selection, self-sustaining ecosystems, etc., and then, "... consciously emulating life's
genius," to improve manufacturing processes, create new medicines, change the way we grow food or even harness energy.
Examples
One example is human's attempt to learn from and emulate the incredible ability of termites to maintain virtually constant
temperature and humidity in their sub-Saharan Africa homes despite an outside temperature variation from 3 °C and 42 °C (35 °F at
night to 104 °F during the day.) Project TERMES (Termite Emulation of Regulatory Mound Environments by Simulation) scanned a termite mound, created 3-D images
of the mound structure and provided the first ever glimpse of construction that may likely change the way we build our own
buildings. One such building, a mid-rise office complex in Harare, Zimbawe, (highlighted in this Biomimicry.net case-study) stays cool
without air conditioning and uses only 10% of the energy of a conventional building its size.
Another is modeling the ultrasonic navigation capability of bats in darkness and putting that functionality into a cane for
the site-impaired. Reseach performed at the University of Leeds (in the U.K.) led to
the UltraCane, a product manufactured,
marketed and sold by Sound Foresight Ltd.
See also
External links
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