Biomimicry or Biomimetics is the imitation of nature’s genius to solve some of humanity’s complex problems. For illustration, consider the mosquitos’ proboscis, with its unique, relatively painless, and precise piercing mechanism, that inspired a less painful needle.
Employing both physical and chemical mechanisms, the disease-causing bug numbs our senses before piercing through the skin. In 2008, scientists mimicked the mosquitos’ stinger, to develop a needle that considerably reduces the pain upon needle insertion.
On 17th December 1903, the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, etched their names in history with the world’s first controlled and sustained flight, lasting 12 seconds and covering 120 feet.
They were able to achieve this feat by taking a keen observation of birds in flight and incorporating their findings into aeronautics research, with an emphasis on gliding.
The spider web, an intricate structure of protein-based fiber created for protection, to capture prey, and for travel has inspired significant advancements in the fields of medicine – medical tools like stitches and implants that are strong and flexible, medical adhesives used in surgical procedure and tissue repair.
In architecture – buildings that can ‘bend’ but not break during earthquakes or strong winds, protective gear that absorbs shocks, and super-strong and comfortable fabrics.
The harnessing of solar energy using panels has borrowed a leaf from nature, by observing the efficiency of photosynthesis and employing similar processes in the design of renewable energy equipment. Across various disciplines, from engineering to research, technology to art and design, mother nature has provided the blueprint for problem-solving.
Self-healing concrete, coatings, plastics and glass have been modelled after the human body’s (skin and bone) healing properties. According to ScienceDirect, a database for scientific, technical and health publications,
‘Self-healing concrete is a novel type of cement-based material characterized by the ability of the concrete to self-seal cracks occurring due to external loading or exposure in aggressive environments…’
Water-repellent clothing, fashioned after duck feathers and lotus leaves – ideal for people working outdoors such as construction workers, for military wear, and water sports too, or the first Chinese umbrellas invented 17 centuries ago from observing children using lotus leaves to shield themselves from rain, are just another example of natures designs being replicated into human-made solutions.
Certain locations are more conducive to biomimicry due to their unique biodiversity and environmental conditions. A case in point is tropical rainforests like the Amazon, the Congo, and Southeast Asian Rainforests that are home to an incredible collection of plant and animal species.
Or the Sahara, Kalahari, Namib, Great Victoria, Karakum, or Atacama deserts are home to plants and animals that have evolved to survive in extreme conditions.
The Rwenzori, Himalayas, Andes, and Rocky Mountains offer a range of ecosystems from tropical to alpine, with unique adaptations.
Desert beetles, found in the Namib desert, that inspired the development of water-harvesting technologies are a good example of location-specific biomimicry. The beetle’s efficient collection of water from fog provides a promising and innovative approach to solving a global freshwater shortage, especially in arid and desert regions where water is scarce.
In a fascinating experiment, Japanese scientists used slime mould, a single-celled organism, without a brain, nervous system, or organs, to map out the country’s complex rail network, and only within an astonishing 6 days.
The same exploit had taken human engineers years to accomplish. The mould can navigate intricate paths, communicate and locate food with remarkable efficiency.
Placing the moulds’ favourite food at locations corresponding to Japan’s major cities, the scientists had watched the organism map its way out. This has far-reaching implications for urban planning, traffic and development, especially for developing countries like Uganda.
Our national planners and innovation hubs, like the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), should allocate more funding to Biomimicry and take a cue from nature.
By Alfred Galandi
