Biomimicry, a scientific field dedicated to using nature as a model to guide the development of more efficient and better technology, recenters the anthropocentric narrative that often takes the reigns in science.
In response to the current ecological crisis, it is becoming ever-present that the rapid industrialization that is necessary for technological advancement is not sustainable in the long term. Instead, biomimetics is being touted as a sustainable alternative to innovation in that it seeks to mimic processes that have existed within the animal kingdom for millennia. Rather than dominating nature, biomimicry pushes us to learn from it. Of course, biomimetics requires more than just imitation. It must also be coupled with human input to be as successful and impactful as possible.
History of Biomimicry
Leonardo da Vinci first conceptualized the idea of biomimicry through his study of bird and bat wings. He was interested in how these organisms were able to continuously soar, with the intention of using these findings to help humans get into the air. While never successful in reaching the final step of human flight, da Vinci’s findings did not fly under the radar. It is said that his descriptions and diagrams of the aerodynamics of soaring bird flight predate the first accepted explanation of the physics of this maneuver - by 400 years!
Owing inspiration to da Vinci, biomimicry has its origins in human flight and continued to be used for that purpose until the early 20th century. In 1934, doctoral student Otto Schmitt used biomimicry in a novel way – he built an electrical circuit based on the neural impulses of squid. Coined by Schmitt, in 1969, the word “biomimicry” was first used for the first time in the title of a scientific paper. A mere 5 years later, the word was added to Webster’s dictionary.
After Schmitt, the realm of possibilities that biomimicry could be used for blossomed. Some examples include NASA and 3M’s attempt to mimic the grooves on shark skin to decrease drag on aircrafts, or heat-resistant architecture that ant-mounds. Such examples continue to boost the integrity of biomimicry as a viable field of study. The question guiding biomimicry prompts us to reflect on “what would nature do?” when presented with a problem.
Biomimicry In Action
- Velcro
In the early 1940s, Swiss engineer George de Mastral kept encountering the problem of finding burrs stuck to his dog’s hair while taking him for walks. Intrigued, de Mastral used his microscope to observe the hooks on the burr that allowed it to attach so securely to his furry pal. As someone who hikes a lot, I am no stranger to the numerous, unrelenting burrs that stick to my clothing on an outing. Luckily, de Mastral saw these burrs not just as a nuisance, but as an opportunity to experiment. Taking after the burrs’ adhesive properties, de Mastral created a synthetic version using nylon to make the Velcro material that is so ubiquitous today.
- Surgical Adhesives
Have you ever wondered how mussels manage to stay on rocks despite being battered by waves? They owe this incredible strength to a powerful natural adhesive called byssi. Inspired by the natural compounds that give rise to this adhesive ability, such as collagen fibers and a specific protein called Mefp-1, researchers have looked to the properties of byssi to create new ways of stitching wounds and their usage in surgery.
- Mangroves
In New Zealand, mangroves have been used as inspiration for new flood protection technology. Mangroves are often the first line of defense against coastal flooding. Their density and root structures help to buffer the impacts of waves, so they do less damage upon reaching human settlements. Additionally, the complex root structure of mangroves allows them to trap sediments and contaminants, improving water quality. New flood protection panels have been developed by researchers that mimic these roots and allow not only for more effective flood protection but also support the existing ecosystem.
Biomimicry Today
In 2010, a team of researchers from the U.K. and Japan fed a slime mold with nutrients arranged in a way that mimicked Tokyo’s subway system and found that the mold’s growth was strikingly similar to the actual design of the city’s transportation network. Inspired by these findings, researchers at the University of Toronto developed a computer model that simulates how this slime mold constructs its network based on the availability of nutrients. This computer model was used to look at transportation networks in Canada’s Wonderland, as well as 17 key subway stations in Toronto. In Canada’s Wonderland, researchers found that the model provided a travel time that was 10% faster than the real-life network and 80% more resilient when faced with a road blockage. Among the subway stations modeled, the slime’s network was 40% less susceptible to disruption.
This has incredible implications for future urban planning designs and transportation network additions. In places where transportation networks are being built for the first time, this software can be used in conjunction with the specific city’s population data, enabling designs to be based on biological networks, thereby increasing efficiency.
While biomimetics is not a new field, there is still so much untapped potential in which researchers can draw inspiration. In a recently published review investigating overlooked sources of inspiration in biomimetic research, authors found that while the field of biomimetics is growing – the taxonomic diversity within these studies is not proportional. In fact, the study found that 90% of the publications reviewed only included biological models for a single organism. This limits the scope of biomimetic research in that it sees one organism being useful for one thing, when multiple organisms can exhibit that same quality. For example, geckos, spiders, and other arthropods all have adhesive capabilities, but geckos are disproportionately cited in current literature. Investigating these biological technologies across organisms can offer powerful insights into alternative design modes that may be unintentionally overlooked when just considering one species.
Biomimicry seeks to demonstrate how the power of nature can guide humans towards efficient and sustainable innovations. By using the evolutionary qualities of living organisms, combined with human knowledge, biomimetics offer a productive way forward in combating environmental degradation and an inevitable shortage of natural resources.
Eva Kellner is a recent graduate from the Faculty of Arts and Science, with a major in Environment. Her research interests include urban green spaces, urban agriculture, and outdoor community spaces - all as promoters of climate resilience among city-dwellers.
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