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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomimetics | 7/7 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimetics | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T14:01:44.463976+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== Other uses === Some air conditioning systems use biomimicry in their fans to increase airflow while reducing power consumption. Technologists like Jas Johl have speculated that the functionality of vacuole cells could be used to design highly adaptable security systems. "The functionality of a vacuole, a biological structure that guards and promotes growth, illuminates the value of adaptability as a guiding principle for security." The functions and significance of vacuoles are fractal in nature, the organelle has no basic shape or size; its structure varies according to the requirements of the cell. Vacuoles not only isolate threats, contain what's necessary, export waste, maintain pressure—they also help the cell scale and grow. Johl argues these functions are necessary for any security system design. The 500 Series Shinkansen used biomimicry to reduce energy consumption and noise levels while increasing passenger comfort. With reference to space travel, NASA and other firms have sought to develop swarm-type space drones inspired by bee behavioural patterns, and oxtapod terrestrial drones designed with reference to desert spiders.
== Other technologies == Protein folding has been used to control material formation for self-assembled functional nanostructures. Polar bear fur has inspired the design of thermal collectors and clothing. The light refractive properties of the moth's eye has been studied to reduce the reflectivity of solar panels.
The Bombardier beetle's powerful repellent spray inspired a Swedish company to develop a "micro mist" spray technology, which is claimed to have a low carbon impact (compared to aerosol sprays). The beetle mixes chemicals and releases its spray via a steerable nozzle at the end of its abdomen, stinging and confusing the victim. Most viruses have an outer capsule 20 to 300 nm in diameter. Virus capsules are remarkably robust and capable of withstanding temperatures as high as 60 °C; they are stable across the pH range 2–10. Viral capsules can be used to create nano device components such as nanowires, nanotubes, and quantum dots. Tubular virus particles such as the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) can be used as templates to create nanofibers and nanotubes, since both the inner and outer layers of the virus are charged surfaces which can induce nucleation of crystal growth. This was demonstrated through the production of platinum and gold nanotubes using TMV as a template. Mineralized virus particles have been shown to withstand various pH values by mineralizing the viruses with different materials such as silicon, PbS, and CdS and could therefore serve as a useful carriers of material. A spherical plant virus called cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) has interesting expanding properties when exposed to environments of pH higher than 6.5. Above this pH, 60 independent pores with diameters about 2 nm begin to exchange substance with the environment. The structural transition of the viral capsid can be utilized in Biomorphic mineralization for selective uptake and deposition of minerals by controlling the solution pH. Possible applications include using the viral cage to produce uniformly shaped and sized quantum dot semiconductor nanoparticles through a series of pH washes. This is an alternative to the apoferritin cage technique currently used to synthesize uniform CdSe nanoparticles. Such materials could also be used for targeted drug delivery since particles release contents upon exposure to specific pH levels.
=== Multimimicry Regenerative Model (MRM) === In 2025, researchers Yassir Turki and Kilzar Arian proposed the Multimimicry Regenerative Model (MRM) as an expanded framework inspired by biomimicry. The model integrates six interrelated domains—Biomimicry, Chemomimicry, Physicomimicry, Geomimicry, Cosmomimicry, and Semiomimicry—to describe how regenerative processes operate across biological, chemical, physical, geological, cosmological, and semiotic systems. The MRM seeks to provide a unified scientific and design approach for regenerative innovation.
== See also ==
== References ==
== Further reading == Benyus, J. M. (2001). Along Came a Spider. Sierra, 86(4), 46–47. Hargroves, K. D. & Smith, M. H. (2006). Innovation inspired by nature Biomimicry. Ecos, (129), 27–28. Marshall, A. (2009). Wild Design: The Ecomimicry Project, North Atlantic Books: Berkeley. Passino, Kevin M. (2004). Biomimicry for Optimization, Control, and Automation. Springer. Pyper, W. (2006). Emulating nature: The rise of industrial ecology. Ecos, (129), 22–26. Smith, J. (2007). It's only natural. The Ecologist, 37(8), 52–55. Thompson, D'Arcy W., On Growth and Form. Dover 1992 reprint of 1942 2nd ed. (1st ed., 1917). Vogel, S. (2000). Cats' Paws and Catapults: Mechanical Worlds of Nature and People. Norton.
== External links == Biomimetics MIT Sex, Velcro and Biomimicry with Janine Benyus Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in Action from TED 2009 Design by Nature - National Geographic Michael Pawlyn: Using nature's genius in architecture from TED 2010 Robert Full shows how human engineers can learn from animals' tricks from TED 2002 The Fast Draw: Biomimicry from CBS News