Our technology are evolving at an amazing rate! But our technology still has a long way to go, just like life forms on earth evolved (and still continues to evolve). But is there secrets we can learn from the structures and systems that life on earth has created to help improve our technology? welcome to biomimicry
What is biomimicry?
Well the word biomimicry means that human made objects or systems are designed in such a way that it mimics Biological or other Natural systems. But why would such systems be effective? Well the simple answer is: Millions of years worth of evolution and adaption. Charles Darwin stated that the species that is best at adapting that is able to survive, not the strongest nor the most intelligent species. This adaption made all life forms amazingly good at surviving and doing certain tasks. This well established systems is what really interested to look at and eventually mimic. Not only will this mimicry help us to improve our technology, but it could also help us to integrate more with mother earth and its natural systems.
The Humble Plant growth and energy.
Plants are one of the first land life forms that evolved on earth. It is amazing at adapting and reproducing. Ferns are a good example of plants extremely good at reproducing with its specialized spoors that could survive weeks in open air, until it finds a nice fertile land patch where it can start to grow and spread its roots across the new found land. These plants are extremely good at harvesting energy from the sun and collecting resources like water and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) to create a form of food called glucose. This process is the famous photosynthesis. Plants tapped in an established Natural system called the carbon cycle to create its life energy. It is no surprise why we still find species of plants that survived for thousands of years!
We can mimic the process of photosynthesis to create energy from the sun. We already have solar panels, but imagine a machine similar to a solar panel, that is placed over your house roof, that produces oxygen and energy for you house. The material could also be more flexible and could roll up like a blanket. This could help reduce our carbon dioxide problem. that we currently face and could make electricity more affordable for a wider community of people. There are initiatives to create this type of technology, but solar panel technology are the most effective system we have and is developing into something more affordable for the average home user.
Synthetic plant material concept art, Image credit:
Our powerful brains
We have amazing brains capable of powerful calculations and amazing algorithm crunching. We know more of how outer space works than how our own brains work, our own internal self. We still face mysteries like why certain diseases form in our brain or how we are good at knowing when people are looking at us. We can always explain reasons for why this is happening but do not understand what is truly happening. Our brains are also amazing at doing fast calculations with little energy usage.
But not only is our brains is important for solving algorithms. insects like bees have an effective, not always the best, solution for the Salesman problem. Our life forms have adapted through thousands of years of the harsh molding conditions mother earth gave us. We can use this molding process to our advantage with computer programs that mimic our brain functions. We could create better AI and other computer assistance to help improve our lives or help solve problems. The computer will of coarse be faster than any human or animal brain, but why rediscover the wheel when nature already have done it!
As mentioned above, the point of biomimicry is using natures solution to problems and try to improve it! We can rapidly change and improve our technology with this type of thinking. No wonder Scientists have adopted this type of thinking!
What do you think? Could Biomimicry change our technological future? Share your thoughts down below! Don't forget to Upvote and follow me if you liked what you read! Please Reasteam as well!
Here are some other good reads from my channel:
Is our road systems effective?
Is the sum of all natural numbers -1/12? Part one
Will we ever be able to explore the galaxy like in Sci-Fi movies?
And as always
Thanks for reading!
If You Like what you read go and follow me Here
Once again comment, upvote and subscribe!
Thanks for reading!
Note to my followers: Once again, I am sorry for not posting as frequently as I should due to Exams. I will try to post once a week! Thanks for sticking with me, I really appreciate the support you guys give me! This post was short and really fun to make!
