Nature Has More To Teach Us Than We Know
When we have a problem, we look for solutions. But solutions don’t necessarily have to be complex or even new for that matter. They can just be simple.
Look around, beyond your phones, beyond your books, beyond google and you’ll discover how nature can give you simple solutions to the complicated issues.
Industries have only cropped up hundred years back but nature has lived through an evolution of three billion years. These years were filled with constant trial-and-error that can give us better answers than any business leaders.
Let us tell you a story
This story dates back to 1989 when Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train had a problem. The train was at a commendable speed of 170 mph but every time it exited the tunnel it made a loud noise. Each time the train entered the tunnel an atmospheric pressure was built that caused the air to create a sonic boom at the time of exit. The effects of the sound were audible up to 400 meters, this was a huge problem in the residential areas.
Now enters Eiji Nakatsu, a Japanese Engineer who spent his free time bird watching. His team was challenged to make a quieter, faster and efficient bullet train.
The new edition of the train was inspired by different birds of the animal kingdom.
Owls inspired the pantograph- the rig that connects the train to the electrical wires above. It was resigned after their feather using the same curvatures to reduce noise.
Adelie Penguins inspired the supporting shaft of the pantograph whose smooth belly allows them to move smoothly and effortlessly.
The most impactful was the beak of the Kingfisher- the unique shape of its beak allow it to catch its prey while barely making a splash. The team designed three similar such opening for the bullet but the one that was closest to the beak of the kingfisher was selected.
Once the modified train was operational- it was 10% faster, used 15% less electricity and mainly was under the sound limit.
A design like this is called Bio-mimicry.
There is no doubt that humans are clever but over the years we have created massive sustainability issues for our future generations. Good for us, the solutions to these issues are all around us.
According to the Bio-mimicry institute, “ Bio-mimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies. The goal is to create products, processes, and policies — new ways of living — that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul.”
The main idea behind this is that nature has already found solutions to the problems we are currently struggling with.
When designing the world, designers get inspirations from various of places. These creative heads look at what other people do, read clipping of magazines and basically, they are looking at other human technologies.
The essence of bio-mimicry is to get designers to solve problems by mimicking nature. The three ways through which this is possible is-
Form- You can use elements used in the shape and form of nature to create various editions in your designs.
Process — The natural world has basic processes that help it to function systematically, such processes can be embedded in designs.
Ecosystem- This is a holistic approach where designers are motivated to create circular economies inspired by our natural ecosystems. The aim is to have zero waste and that products should not go to landfills but instead should be upcycled.
Examples
Velcro inspired by Burr
Post a hunting trip in the Alps, George de Mestral a Swiss engineer discovered some burdock burrs on his dog. Curious about the way they function, he put them under the microscope to study them. The small hooks at the end of the burr needles were his inspiration to invent the Velcro.
Wind turbines inspired by Humpback Whales
There are many species in the animal kingdom capable of exceptional lift, but the humpback whales are known for its unique fin designs. A research group discovered that the bumps at the front edge of a whale fin greatly increase its efficiency, reducing drag by 32 percent and increasing lift by 8 percent. Companies are implementing this while designing wind turbine blades, airplane wings, etc.
Communication process used by Ants for software development
Ants have a distinct process for communicating efficiently when searching for food or for new places to live. This process of self-organisation is mimicked by software companies. A process like this is used for the communication of autonomous cars- how they are going to move around in a flock by talking to one another.
Nature is a good teacher to learn from, all its elements are designed with such intrigued details. If you don’t observe, you’ll never know. Even though we are smart, nature is always a step ahead and has simple solutions to the complex of problems.
Taking inspiration from nature can not only help design the world in a better way but can also help us improve day to day hustles. You don’t just learn science from nature, you also learn philosophy!
