Mimicking nature
When we as humans try to mimic and use features and phenomena that already exist in nature, we call it biomimicry. Biologists, engineers, architects and designers work together to use nature as a way of finding solutions to problems that exist around us.
A burdock with thorny flowers.
A burdock with barbs at the tips of the thorns.
Photo: Prosthetic-Head-CC-BY-SA
Velcro, a human invention inspired by nature.
Photo: Ryj-CC-BY-SA
Velcro – an invention from a meadow of flowers
When Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral returned from a hunting trip, he found his dog’s coat full of the flower heads of burdocks known as burrs. The ability of these burrs to stick to the fur of animals makes it easier for the burdock to spread its seeds around in the wild. Mestral was inspired by the hooks of the burrs. He designed a fastener where one side is spiny like the burrs themself and the other side is soft and fuzzy like the fur of an animal.
Mestral patented his fabric fastener in 1955 and since then his invention known as Velcro has been used for clothes, shoes, toys, bracelets and even in space – in the tool belts of astronauts. Do you have anything at home with Velcro on it?
The tokay gecko has feet that inspired scientists.
Photo: Nick-Hobgood-CC-BY
Close-up on the gecko's feet, which are able to attach to almost any surface.
Photo: Bjorn-Christian-Torrissen-CC-BY-SA
Magnification of the micro hairs called setae, on the underside of the gecko's feet. This is what researchers are trying to mimic to create "gecko tape".
Photo: Dennis-Kunkel-CC-BY-NC-ND
The ingenious feet of the gecko
The geckos have been known to both walk and climb vertical walls and hunt insects while running upside down across a ceiling. Their feet attach to all sorts of surfaces including perfectly flat panes of glass. It wasn’t until scientists started studying their feet at the molecular level that they understood how this works. On the underside of the gecko’s feet are tiny hairs known as setae. They have more than 14,000 hairs in one square millimetre! At the end of the hairs there are even smaller barbs that stick to the surface down to the nano level.
The gecko feet not only attach to the surface but also release when the gecko moves. In addition, the feet are self-cleaning and leave no dirty marks. Scientists have now succeeded in producing what is called ”gecko tape”, and other products with similar properties. Products with very strong adhesive properties, which are easy to remove and do not stain the surface. Imagine if a goalkeeper in football wore gloves like that!
Waterbirds like ducks or grebes, have feet perfectly adapted to move quickly in the water...
Photo: lynx81-CC-BY-NC-ND
...and have inspired human manufacturing of oars and paddles.
Mimicking is hardly new
Biomimicry may be thought of as a fairly new technique. But it has actually been with us for a long time. Paddles and oars mimic the feet of waterbirds. If you look at a duck’s feet as it swims, you’ll understand how a paddle works. The Wright brothers, who invented the first working aeroplane, studied how pigeons moved in the air. Maybe if you look around, you can think of more ways we’ve mimicked nature?