BIOMIMICRY

Similar to the cradle-to-cradle focus on design, biomimicry is an emerging field that imitates elements of nature in design and processes. Originally named by the scientist Janine Benyus (1998), this work focuses on the practical app­lication of ideas gleaned from natural processes. Some examples include the web silk that some spiders create, which is as strong as the Kevlar used in bulletproof vests. Engineers could use this material in such items as parachute lines or suspension bridge cables. Other research has proposed harvesting water from the fog the way a beetle does and creating adhesive glue from mussels, solar cells whose structure is similar to that of leaves, bionic cars inspired by the boxfish, fabric that emulates shark ...

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