biomimicry

Imitating nature in man-made systems. Examples are a film similar to the coating on a moth's eyeballs that minimizes screen glare, a directional microphone that mimics the moving hairs on crickets, and a waterproof coating that emulates the grooves and wax coating on a butterfly's wings.

A very notable example is the Eastgate Center in Harare, Zimbabwe. Built in 1996, this shopping and office complex was constructed using principles discovered in termite mounds in the desert. Termites maintain an almost perfectly uniform temperature for their food inside their tunnels, even though outside temperatures range from near freezing at night to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the day. The even temperature is accomplished by continuously opening and closing a series of vents throughout the day. Eastgate uses 10% of the energy of a traditional building to keep cool. See bionic.

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Biomimicry

A new science that studies nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems, e.g., a solar cell inspired by a leaf. The application of methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. It uses an ecological standard to judge the rightness of our innovations. After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned what works, what is appropriate, and what lasts.

Mentioned in

bionic

References in periodicals archive

Kennedy, Director of External Relations, Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center, University of Akron, and Thomas A.

The 2017 Maurice Holland Award

Biomimicry is a new discipline that tries to learn from those geniuses, and take advice from them, design advice."

Learning from Nature: the Beauty & Value of Biomimicry: Sustainable innovation inspired by nature is not new, but it's never been more relevant

When biomimicry seeks solutions, its main inspiration source becomes nature.

Can Biomimicry and Managerial Concepts Come Together?

Biomimicry: The "Natural" intersection of biology and engineering.

Designing the technological world through biomimicry

Biomimicry has great promise for helping us combat or at least adjust to climate change.

Seeking Nature-Inspired Solutions to Climate Change

The Biomimicry Institute holds an annual Biomimicry Global Design Challenge aimed at promoting ideas on a theme that "balances immediate humanitarian concerns with potential global ecological effects." The theme of the 2016 Challenge is Food Systems.

Biomimicry and engineering

Richard MacCowan, director and co-founder of Biomimicry UK, said: "It's not just about sustainability.

ANT AND TECH; How wonders of nature insppire scientists to solve everyday problems; Insect's behaviour r holds key to stopping spam emails

"We are connected to the Biomimicry Institute and we use their materials to teach about the subject," El Sayed said.

Dayma's everlasting effect

The concept of engineering technology so that it copies nature is known as biomimicry. "Nature has had millions and millions of years to come up with solutions to problems," says Jennifer Gille, an engineer at Qualcomm, a wireless communications company based in San Diego, California.

Nature's copycats: from robots to cell phones, here are three technologies inspired by nature

Biomimicry is a fascinating look at how human inventions are inspired by nature.

Biomimicry: Inventions Inspired by Nature

You may not be familiar with the term biomimicry, but you already know the concept.

Mother nature knows best