10 Amazing Scientific Advances That Came From Copying Nature
It’s not difficult to deduce that airplanes are based on birds — some of the better pilots in the animal kingdom. After 3.8 billion years and a lot of trial and error, animals have become astoundingly good at a variety of tasks (humans still take the cake in the “watching stuff and getting fat category”). As a result, the field of Biomimicry has ballooned in recent years as scientists and companies are discovering new and interesting ways to steal Nature’s intellectual property. Bullet-Proof Skin Image Source Probably since elementary school you’ve heard stories of the magical properties of spider silk. Chimps, the Oldest Pharmacists Image Source Chimpanzees have evolved to seek out therapeutic cures found naturally in their environment. Unfortunately, this only works for chimpanzees, as something delicious to a house cat (like its own vomit) might be toxic (or just disgusting and pointless) for humans to consume. Termites are Amazing Architects Image Source Solar Cells Based on Leaves
14 Smart Inventions Inspired by Nature: Biomimicry: Nature as R&D Lab
Companies seeking breakthrough products tend to ignore the greatest invention machine in the universe: life’s more than three-billion-year history of evolution by natural selection. What’s missing is a systematic way of capturing nature’s creativity, says Janine Benyus, a biologist, "innovation consultant" and author. Engineering practices are fractured, Benyus says. Experts in biomimetics study materials; bionics engineers work on prostheses and mechanics. So she launched what she calls a new discipline, biomimicry, the title of her 1997 book. Click ahead for some striking examples of biomimicry. With assistance from Tom Randall.
Le biomimétisme, ces innovations qui s'inspirent de la nature
Réagissez : Partagez : S’inspirer de la Nature pour développer des produits et techniques révolutionnaires : c’est là l’essence même du biomimétisme. Le biomimétisme pour respecter l’environnement Janine Benyus - Photo : earthsky.org C’est l’ouvrage de Janine Benyus Biomimicry : Innovation Inspired by Nature qui a porté à la connaissance du grand public cette approche scientifique dès 1997. L’auteur de 6 ouvrages sur le biomimétisme passionnée par le sujet a fondé le Biomimicry Institute dont l’objectif est de promouvoir le biomimétisme, démontrant ses applications efficaces et respectueuses de l’environnement dans bien des domaines (agriculture, architecture, informatique, etc.) Le biomimétisme démontre avec talent que quel que soit le problème, la Nature a déjà trouvé la solution. Imaginez si les grands industriels se mettaient tous à imiter la nature ! Quelques exemples de biomimétisme Un détecteur d’explosifs inspiré des antennes de papillon Bombyx du Mûrier © internaute.com Source : cnrs
L’économie à l'ère de l'écologie
Si les animaux, les plantes, ou les insectes pouvaient parler, qu’auraient-ils à nous dire, de quoi nous entretiendraient-ils ? D’économie et de biomimétisme, bien entendu ! C’est ainsi qu’au cours d’une promenade en forêt au détour d’un chemin, l’auteur – ou plutôt le modeste rapporteur – de ce petit ouvrage fort instructif fait une rencontre inopinée : un Cerambix cerdo. Ce coléoptère, également appelé Grand capricorne, non seulement se trouve doué de parole mais se pique d’économie et entend donner une leçon de (sur)vie aux hommes dont voici quelques éléments de démonstration. © Wildproject Editions Après avoir passé des milliers d’années à vouloir maîtriser la nature, l’asservir même, pour qu’elle réponde à ses besoins, l’homme, croyant bien faire et rêvant à un monde meilleur a “cru devoir éliminer le hasard, ce moteur du vivant”, dit l’insecte. Download as PDF
Inspire Institut, réconcilier développement économique et biosphère. | Réconcilier développement économique et biosphère
EcoSapiens: Smart Solutions for a Living Planet - EcoSapiens blog
Allison Alberts on biomimicry - sustainable solutions inspired by nature | Human World
Biomimicry is design inspired by nature. With 7 billion humans on Earth today – and demand for natural resources growing, while supplies remain fixed – people are looking for innovative ideas to help companies, consumers, and the environment. Scientists are realizing that many ideas for a more sustainable world can come from nature itself. Biomimicry studies nature’s best ideas, and applies them to solving human problems. Lotus leaves inspired a new self-cleaning paint. She gave a simple example, involving the common lotus leaf. The microscopic structure of a lotus leaf allows water droplets to bead up and roll off, washing away even the smallest specks of dirt. Dr. Buildings painted with Lotusan actually clean themselves every time it rains, which eliminates the need for harsh chemicals or detergent. And that is biomimicry. Termite mounds are self-cooling. Termite mounds, which are self-cooling, inspired highrise buildings with no air-conditioning. Dr. Dr.
Biomimicry Institute - Home
The Biomimicry 3.8 Institute is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and imitation of nature’s remarkably efficient designs, bringing together scientists, engineers, architects and innovators of all ages who can use those models to create sustainable technologies. The Institute was founded in 2006 by science writer and consultant Janine Benyus in response to overwhelming interest in the subject following the publication of her book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. See Janine’s TED Talk video for her groundbreaking introduction to biomimicry. Today, the Biomimicry 3.8 Institute focuses on three areas: Developing our online database of nature’s solutions, AskNature.org.Hosting our annual, international Biomimicry Student Design Challenge.Growing our Global Network of regional biomimicry practitioners. See examples of biomimicry in action! Meet executive director Beth Rattner, our staff, and the Institute board.
