Emulating nature

All around us

K S Someswara writes about biomimicry, that studies nature’s models and takes inspiration from their designs to cater to human needs

Biomimicry or biomimetics is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes and elements to emulate or take inspiration from, in order to solve human problems. In Greek, the term bios means life and mimesis is to imitate.

This can also be called as bionics, bioinspiration and biognosis. We human beings always look upon nature or our surroundings like plants and animals for inspiration to find solutions to our problems for a better living. We try to emulate nature.

The thinking ability of man has made him adventurous to aim for a better life every time. The evolution of mankind has seen enormous changes and we are using all possible sources from nature — going into the domains of plants and animals.

To consider the utility of biomimicry for the good of human beings, one of the earliest examples is the study of birds to enable human flight. Leonardo Da Vinci was a keen observer of the anatomy and flight of birds. Though he did not succeed in creating a flying machine, he made sketches of them. And the Wright Brothers, who were the pioneers of the airplane, were inspired by the pigeon’s flight.

An American academic and inventor Otto Schmitt coined the term biomimetics to describe the transfer of ideas from biology to technology. It is a study of biologically produced substances and materials (enzymes or silk), biological mechanisms and processes (protein synthesis or photosynthesis), especially for synthesising similar products.

Jack Steele, a psychologist, describes the same as ‘the science of system which have some function copied from nature’.  It is a science concerned with the application of data about the function of biological system to the solution of engineering problems. This is associated with the use of electronically operated artificial body parts and increase ordinary human power by the aid of such devices.

Termite technology

Another example to emulate nature is the study of termites. Termites have the ability to maintain a consistent temperature and humidity in their sub-Saharan African homes where the outside temperature has extreme variations.

A study of termite mound was studied by creating 3D images of the mound structure, which can be ideally applied to a human dwelling design. A mid-sized office building in Harare, Zimbabwe, has been designed and constructed by applying technology similar to that of termite mound. This has made the building cooler without using air conditioners and using only 10 per cent of the energy of a conventional building of its size.

Modelling echolocation of bats in darkness is another example of biomimicry. This led to the creation of more useful products such as canes for the visually impaired. Janine Benyus, a scientist, describes biomimicry as innovation inspired by nature.

She explains the same as a ‘new’ science that studies nature’s models and imitates or takes inspiration from their design and processes to solve human problems.

She quotes the example of the spider that creates web silk, the thread of which is as strong as the Kevlar used in bullet- proof vests. She feels the technology can use the same fibre if this can sustain long rate of decay. This can be used in parachutes, suspension bridge cables, and artificial ligaments in medicine.

Many more

Velcro, a popular material of the 20th century used in many applications was another material inspired from the Burr plant. A display technology based on reflective properties of certain ‘morpho butterflies’ was commercialised a few years ago. The technology used here is interferometric modulation to reflect light so that only the desired colour is visible to the eye in each individual pixel of the display board.

There are many more examples where biomimicry is used for our benefit. Solar cells made like leaves, adhesive glue from mussels, bionic cars inspired by box fish, harvesting water from fog like a desert beetle, to name a few.

Biomimicry provides design, methodology and technique to optimise engineering production and system. An example to quote is the rederivation of Murray’s Law which is conventionally applied for determining the optimum diameter of the blood vessels.

There are many more fields where we can emulate nature which can be broadly called biomimicry, like:

*Economic clusters inspired by mangroves or rainforests

*Value-added business inspired by nutrient cycles.

*Bacterial control inspired by red algae.

* Building material from CO2 inspired by molluscs.

* Vaccines without refrigeration inspired by resurrected plant.

* Manufacturing of fibre by golden orb weaver spider.

* Purification of water by the principle of marsh ecosystem.

* Pacemaker replacement which is inspired by humpback whale.

* Fire retardant animal cells.

* Self-cleaning of surfaces mimicking lotus plant.

* Optical brightness following Cyphochilus beetles.

Janine suggests looking to nature as a ‘Model, Measure and Mentor’ and emphasises sustainability as an objective of biomimicry. We can mimic nature around us to the best of our use, but we should not disturb nature itself.