• SELF-CLEANING SURFACE

    The Lotus plant is known for its self-cleaning properties exhibited by its leaves. This ‘cleaning’ results from its ultra-hydrophobic surface wherein dirt particles slip off.

  • A COMMON VISION

    Apis Mellifera belongs in a superorganism that behaves like a complex whole but consists of interacting organisms. As acommunity, they demonstrate collective decision-making.

  • HARVEST WATER FROM THE ATMOSPHERE

    Onymacris unguicularis. The Namibian fog basking beetle survives in the Namib Desert which receives around 1cm of rainfall annually. Hence, he has developed an elegant way of harvesting water from fog that rolls off the Atlantic ocean in the early morning.

  • STAY WARM LIKE A PENGUIN

    Aptenodytes forsteri. Penguin feathers provide excellent insulation in both air and water, regaining flying capability automatically after swimming. They are part of a complex layering system that keeps heat from escaping the penguin’s tiny body and have inspired clothing, as well as, building design.

  • STOP CRACKS LIKE AN ABELONE

    Haliotis. Abalone shells are made of thousands of layers of hard discs made from calcium carbonate, connected with a flexible mortar. They have an incredible resistance to crack propagation, and this combination of hard and soft layers absorb the energy from an impact. Nature here has inspired fracture-resistant ceramics that are retain a high elasticity under loads.

  • STAY CONNECTED LIKE MOLD

    Physarum polycephaum. This single-celled organism finds the shortest path through any maze with minimum distances between food sources. It builds highly efficient connective networks without the help of a central planning board. A Japan-based research team has grown slime mold to explore Tokyo’s rail system connections.

  • WORK TOWARDS A COMMON VISION

    Megaptera novaeangliae. These whales have developed a unique ‘bubble-net’ feeding style by blowing air bubbles under water to generate a ‘net’ which collects and traps their prey. Here nature uses only the energy it needs and relies on freely available energy. This sophisticated form of ‘gathering’ has been explored to create a net-less system to catch fish.

  • CLIMB LIKE A GECKO

    Gekkota. The gecko has an amazing ability to climb vertical surfaces and even hang upside down. Adhesives are amongst the nastiest compounds used in design for glueing, however the ghecko has inspired a tape adhesive based on physic (not chemistry) and has also shown the possibility for humans to climb walls.

  • KEEPING COOL LIKE CACTI

    Cactaceae. Nature has solved the heat problem by equipping many cacti with cooling ribs. Their ribs provide shade on the cactus’ surface against the scorching sun and improve heat radiation. Application ideas have been used in building envelope design and innovation that keeps buildings cool in hot climates.

  • VENTILATE LIKE A CONE

    Pinus. Pine cones are entirely dependent on their environment and surroundings and their ‘humidity-sensitive’ scales open and close purposefully for the fertilization of seeds, protection from the environment, adaptation and survival. Textile design has developed a material with this sophisticated response-cycle to aid in microclimate ventilation in sportwear.

  • BE STRONG AS SPIDER'S SILK

    Araneae. Spider’s silk is light and flexible, and on a molecular scale, is 5 times stronger than steel. The silk is made at room temperature with nature’s raw materials of water and dead flies spun out of a spider’s rear chamber. It inspires scientists to find ways of producing such an innovative strong material through bacteria growth, modes of spider farming and/or building machines that mimick the spinning chamber.

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