Nature-inspired Innovations And Inventions

Human ingenuity has long been inspired by nature, which provides insights that result in ground-breaking discoveries and long-term fixes for a range of problems. Nature’s designs, which range from how aquatic animals move through water to how plants adapt to their surroundings, are a treasure trove for imaginative minds looking to tackle challenging issues. 

Photo:@Cosmopolitan

This idea, called biomimicry, entails researching the natural world and using its ideas to develop more inventive, eco-friendly, and efficient technology and products. These environmentally friendly technologies are transforming sectors like manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and energy while enhancing sustainability and performance. 

• Bird Safe Glass

Every year, millions of birds die from flying into glass windows. This not only affects wildlife but also poses risks to property owners, as broken windows and the consequences of these collisions can result in costly repairs and safety concerns. 

Photo:@Bored Panda

To address this issue, Arnold Glas developed ORNILUX® Bird Protection Glass, a solution inspired by nature’s design. Birds often perceive glass as an open space due to reflections of the sky or surrounding environment, which increases the likelihood of collisions, especially in urban areas where glass structures are common.

Drawing inspiration from orb-weaver spiders, which incorporate UV-reflective threads into their webs to prevent birds from flying into them, Arnold Glas created ORNILUX® glass. This design alerts birds to the presence of glass, helping them avoid potential accidents.

Photo:@Freepik

Studies have shown that ORNILUX® glass can reduce bird collisions by up to 76%. For example, research from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology demonstrated that birds were able to recognize and avoid the glass due to its UV-reflective patterns. 

• Self-Cooling Architecture

Because of their destructive nature, termites are frequently seen as pests, but they have also influenced creative architectural designs. Energy-efficient buildings that replicate termite mound ventilation were created by Zimbabwean architect Mick Pearce, who studied the natural cooling mechanisms of termite mounds and applied these ideas to human constructions.

Photo:@Pin Page

This strategy is best demonstrated by Mick Pearce’s well-known project, the Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe. The Eastgate Centre, a retail and office building that opened in 1996, was built to keep temperatures comfortable without the use of traditional air conditioning. 

High thermal mass materials used in the building’s architecture absorb heat during the day and release it at night to keep the interior temperature steady. Architecture outside of Zimbabwe has been impacted by Pearce’s termite-inspired designs. 

Photo:@Bored Panda

He co-designed Council House 2 (CH2) in Melbourne, Australia, a structure with energy-efficient technology and natural ventilation, among other environmental features. These ideas show how creative architectural design solutions can result from monitoring natural processes.

• Wetsuits

Beavers don’t have the substantial fat layers that whales do to keep warm in frigid water. Rather, during dives, their thick fur keeps them dry and warm by trapping air between individual hairs. Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a wetsuit design that mimics the insulating qualities of beaver fur, drawing inspiration from this natural adaptation.

Photo:@Bored Panda

To learn how beavers retain air in their fur while immersed, MIT engineers created rubbery, fur-like pelts in 2016. They found that air retention, which is necessary for insulation, is greatly influenced by the spacing and arrangement of individual hairs. 

This realization prompted the creation of a wetsuit design that improves thermal insulation for surfers and other water sports enthusiasts by including textures akin to fur. 

• Wind Blades

Because of the unusual shape of their flippers, humpback whales can swim incredibly fast despite their enormous size. The tubercles, or bumps along the leading edge, on these flippers improve their speed and maneuverability. 

Photo:@The Global College

Scientists have created cutting-edge technology in a variety of industries, motivated by this natural design. Researchers have adapted the idea of tubercles to wind turbine blades in the realm of renewable energy. These blades have significantly improved their aerodynamic performance by adding bumps to their leading edges. 

Wind turbines are now producing more electricity and operating more efficiently as a result of this design change. This biomimicry has also helped the aviation sector. Engineers have increased lift and decreased drag on aircraft wings by using tubercle-inspired designs, which results in quieter and more effective flying operations. 

Photo:@Bored Panda

• Adhesive Climbing Gear

Geckos’ feet have a special structure that allows them to stick to a variety of surfaces, even smooth glass. Setae, which resemble microscopic hairs and are found on their feet, enhance surface area and let them adhere to surfaces utilizing van der Waals forces. 

To create a climbing apparatus for people, Stanford University researchers attempted to mimic this natural adhesion mechanism in 2014. To make sticky pads that could be worn on the hands and feet, they magnified the minuscule structures seen on gecko toes. 

Photo:@Bored Panda

Numerous applications, such as robotic grippers and climbing apparatuses, have been made possible by this breakthrough. The adaptability and efficacy of this technology are demonstrated by the “farmHand,” a robotic hand created by Stanford engineers that uses adhesives inspired by geckos to handle delicate goods like raw eggs and bunches of grapes. 

• Needles

Because of the extraordinary structure of their proboscis, mosquitoes can pierce skin with little feeling. The creation of microneedles intended to lessen pain during medical procedures was motivated by this natural mechanism.

Photo:@Bored Panda

The use of microneedles modeled after mosquitoes provides less discomfort and agony. Because of their modest size and design, they cause less tissue damage, which makes treatments less painful. More people may choose necessary medical treatments if they offer fewer painful methods.

To develop microneedles that replicate mosquitoes’ effective skin penetration, researchers have examined the architecture of these insects. Because these microneedles are so much smaller than conventional needles, less intrusive operations are possible. A mosquito-inspired needle, for instance, required 27% less insertion force than a regular one, which decreased insertion pain. 

Photo:@CDC

• Bullet Trains

The Japanese Shinkansen Bullet Train is well known for its aerodynamic design, which considerably lowers noise levels when traveling at 150–200 mph through tunnels. The kingfisher, a bird distinguished by its long, narrow beak that enables it to plunge into the water with a little splash, served as the model for this creative design. 

Because of its beak, the kingfisher can enter the water more smoothly, which lessens the splash and noise made during its dive. This change resulted in a 15% decrease in electricity use and a 10% speed boost. The revised design also reduced air pressure by 30%, which improved passenger comfort and made operations quieter. 

Photo:@Bored Panda

This biomimetic method demonstrates how engineering designs inspired by nature can result in more effective and ecologically friendly solutions. Engineers have created a train that demonstrates the advantages of incorporating natural principles into contemporary design by researching and modeling the kingfisher’s beak.

• Shark Skin

Thanks in great part to developments in swimwear technology, swimmers have set some incredible records in recent years. The Speedo Fastskin swimsuit, which was inspired by shark skin, is one noteworthy invention. Dermal denticles are microscopic, tooth-like structures found in sharkskin that produce micro-turbulences in the water to lessen drag and facilitate smoother movement. Speedo created a swimsuit that reduces water resistance, allowing competitors to swim more quickly, by mimicking this natural shape. 

Photo:@Bored Panda

Swimwear is just one application of the biomimicry principle. Inspired by shark skin, the German business Vosschemie creates a hull paint called Haifisch Haut. By simulating the rough texture of shark skin, this nontoxic covering stops algae, barnacles, and other marine life from adhering to ship hulls. Ships can sail quicker and use less fuel when biofouling is reduced because they face less drag.

Inventions That Copy Nature Perfectly

Human ingenuity has always been greatly inspired by nature. The amazing potential of using knowledge from the natural world to address challenging challenges is demonstrated by the many instances of biomimicry in contemporary technology. More effective, sustainable, and ecologically friendly solutions have resulted from these developments, which range from termite-inspired self-cooling buildings to bird-safe glass that helps conserve biodiversity. 

Photo:@Bioneer

The creation of materials like swimwear and hull coatings inspired by shark skins and sticky climbing gear inspired by geckos shows how nature’s innovations may improve performance and lessen environmental effects in a variety of sectors. 

The kingfisher-inspired Shinkansen bullet train and the humpback whale-inspired wind blades are revolutionizing transportation and energy efficiency, while the mosquito’s painless needle design has transformed medical treatments.