Biomimicry is the science of using systems in nature to solve problems. When biomimicry is put into use, the structures and patterns of nature are translated into different materials to approach the issue as natural selection had.
Here are some examples of biomimicry put into use:
- Velcro mimics burs on a dog
- Humpback whale fins inspired wind turbines
- A vehicle’s glass breaks into a web pattern to mimic the strength of a spider web
- Winter coats are stuffed with down feathers to mimic ducks
VINE, or Virtual Interchange for Nature-inspired Exploration, is a part of NASA’s Glenn Research Center that focuses on applying the concept of biomimicry to NASA’s goals. This mostly focuses on applying natural structures to physical structures. Recently, however, scientists have used the mimicry of biological systems to overcome long-standing hurdles of space travel. The tardigrade, a creature about the size of a dust mite, has provided some surprising insights on the topic.
The taligrade produces a number of proteins that allow it to survive extreme environments, particularly those with high radiation. By mimicking the taligrade, food crops may be able to withstand these large radiation doses. Scientists have already inserted the gene for this protein into human cells and found that they have higher resistance to X-rays and peroxides.
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