Submarines of the future speed through the water with the help of wiggling fish fins. Aircraft ascend through the clouds with flapping wings. In the desert, a climber steadily approa­ches the summit of a cliff, open palms effortlessly sticking to rock with the use of gecko-inspired nanotechnology. You've probably only encountered such nature-inspired future technologies in the imagined worlds of science fiction and comic books, but the design approach already exists. Inventors and engineers have been looking to nature for inspiration ever since prehistoric times.

Hang glider and birds
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Human attempts to create effective flying machines often involved studying how birds fly.


Early humans learned hunting, shelter and survival techniques by observing animals as they interacted with their surroundings. While humans lacked the fierce claws and superior hunting instinct of bears, people could mimic their techniques. And as humans began to design ever-more complicated contraptions, they continued to look to nature's example. From Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century sketches of flying machines to the Wright brothers' first successful prototype four centuries later, dreams of human flight centered on observing birds.

The world is full of amazing biological innovations, each one the product of millions of years of evolution. When designing technologies, it only makes sense to study the ways in which nature has already mastered the challenges involved. Today, we know this as biomimetics or biomimicry -- the practice of imitating models in nature to create better forms, processes, systems and strategies.

You encounter examples of biomimicry every day, perhaps without even realizing it. Velcro technology, for instance, was inspired by the way burred seed pouches cling to animal fur. Modern hypodermic needles take a few pointers from rattlesnake fangs. Nike has even ­applied the qualities of goat hoof traction to their running shoe designs.

In this article, we'll explore the ways in which biomimicry bridges the disciplines of biology and engineering, using the innovations of the natural world to improve technology and design.

Biomimicry of Sharks
Who would have thought sharks had so much to teach us? These sea creatures have inspired several biomimetic innovations. Shark skin consists of tiny, tooth-like scales that prevent small eddys and vortexes from forming (which slow them down). Speedo has replicated this effect with its Fastskin® body suits, which allow competitive swimmers to shave crucial seconds off their race times. Others have used this technology to create fast-traveling ship hulls that naturally deter the attachment of underwater organisms. Australia's BioPower Systems is working on a different shark-inspired innovation. The company hopes to anchor mechanical fins -- based on shark physiology -- in the middle of sea currents in order to generate hydroelectric power.