CHAPTER 12
From Biology, by Lila Hogler
The Nature of Things
Biomimicry
B iomimicry is a fairly new word for an ancient
practice. It means, “imitation of life,” and describes
the practice of adopting natural structures and
strategies to solve human problems. Through billions
of years of evolution, organisms have faced and met
the challenges of living on earth, over and over again. The stunning diversity of microbes, animals, and
plants means that for every problem, nature has already produced many solutions. Biomimicry views the
natural world as a vast laboratory filled with completed experiments that can be adapted to make human
activities more efficient. It can be as simple as merely copying a shape, such as building fan blades that
look and perform much like whale flippers. It can also be extremely complex, as in engineering filtering
systems that pull salt out of seawater based on the chemical and mechanical reactions that operate across
cell membranes.
Biomimicry At Work
O ne of the oldest and most widespread
examples of biomimicry is camouflage—
the use of objects, colors, or illumination
to conceal or confuse an observer.
Animals use camouflage to help them eat
and avoid being eaten. Humans have long Figure 1.1. Dazzle or disruptive camouflage consists of
mimicked natural camouflage techniques irregular patterns in contrasting colors, which breaks up
the outline of an animal or object and makes it difficult for
in hunting and warfare. More recently, an observer to judge speed and direction. On the left, even
camouflage techniques have also been stationary zebras merge into a confusing mass. On the
applied to fashion, architecture, and right, a WWI aircraft carrier is painted with a razzle dazzle
industrial design. pattern to throw off the aim of enemy gunners.
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T here are many different methods of
camouflage. Octopi and lizards match the
color and texture of their skins with nearby
rocks and vegetation to blend into the
background, and manmade hunting gear
is painted or woven to do the same thing.
Zebras have wild stripes that disrupt their
outlines especially when they move in
groups, and so did dazzle-painted warships
in World War I. (Figure 1.1) Moths and
caterpillars are shaped like leaves and twigs Figure 1.2. Mimesis or masquerade camouflage makes
to fool predators, while cell phone towers are an animal or object look like something else, in order to
built like trees to hide their industrial clutter escape notice. On the left, caterpillars avoid predators by
from neighbors. (Figure 1.2) Gazelles and looking more like twigs than insects. On the right, a cell
phone tower is disguised as a palm tree to keep it from
whales have counter-shaded sides that
being a neighborhood eyesore.
flatten and minimize rounded shapes, as do
color-blocked dresses. (Figure 1.3)
Figure 1.3. Countershading is the presence of light or
dark patches along the sides of an object to counteract
shadows and make it appear flatter and smaller. In the
ocean, the white belly of a killer whale blends into the
lightness of the sea surface when predators view it from
below. On the dress, the contrasting black sides form a
false background to the white center, making the dress—
and wearer—appear thinner.
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