Interest · 30 examples
30 examples where people turned a strategy from nature into engineering solutions.
Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)
The PAX Water Mixer mimics the golden ratio spiral flow of a calla lily to circulate 10 million gallons of water with the energy footprint of just three 100-watt light bulbs.
Aquaporin water channel proteins (found in all organisms)
Reverse osmosis water filtration systems inspired by aquaporin water channel proteins that enable selective, efficient water transport across membranes.
Vascular Plants, Sapwood (Xylem Tissue)
Sapwood xylem filters bacteria at 99.9%. Costs nearly nothing.
Warm-blooded mammals (eccrine sweating thermoregulation)
Inspired by how warm-blooded animals cool themselves through sweat evaporation, researchers at MIT developed a temperature-sensitive hydrogel layer that passively releases water when surfaces overheat. The hydrogel acts as an artificial sweating skin — dissipating heat through evaporation with more than twice the cooling efficiency of natural convection, without any energy input or moving parts.
Various bird species
Leonardo da Vinci's ornithopter studies and the Wright Brothers' airplane design based on bird flight mechanics and wing structures.
Soaring birds (Buteo and Aquila species)
Large soaring birds like eagles and vultures spread their primary feathers into finger-like tips to reduce induced drag during soaring. Aircraft designers have mimicked this with winglets that reduce drag by 5–7%, saving airlines billions of litres of fuel per year.
Maple seed (Acer) autorotation; Barn owl (Tyto alba) silent flight feathers
Maple seed spinning descent inspires PowerCone retrofit for wind turbine blades, increasing energy capture by 10-13%.
Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Engineer Eiji Nakatsu re-designed the nose of Japan's Shinkansen 500 series bullet train based on the kingfisher's beak — eliminating the sonic boom when exiting tunnels, reducing energy use by 15%, and increasing speed by 10%.
A molecular catalyst for storing energy in systems Azul Energy in Japan has created metal-free catalytic technology through renewable energy for energy storage. What it really boils down to is a special substance that helps speed up chemical reactions without using rare metals.
Low-impact cobalt and nickel source By 2030, there will be an
Praio: Protocells for sustainable, low-cost chemical production Making ingredients for perfumes or medicines can be expensive and carbon-heavy.
Schooling fish (mackerel and other species)
Vertical axis wind turbines arranged using principles of fish schooling to improve efficiency and reduce energy costs in wind farms.
Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea)
Cactus spines collect water from morning fog by using a gradient of surface chemistry and microstructure from tip to base, directing water droplets toward the stem. Researchers are now incorporating this principle into building facade cladding panels that harvest atmospheric water in arid climates.
Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)
Mangrove root systems stabilise trees in shifting tidal sediments by spreading loads across dozens of branching roots rather than concentrating force in a single trunk. Engineers are applying this branching foundation principle to offshore wind turbines to dramatically reduce steel use and installation cost.
OptionV Energy: Turning industrial byproducts into useful chemicals Getting minerals for green energy batteries usually involves lots of heat and chemicals. OptionV Energy uses a process inspired by mushrooms to "claw" minerals out of industrial waste instead.
Vertebrate Limb Joints (Synovial Articulation)
Flexible joint articulation absorbs seismic energy.
Tidal stream dynamics and water flow
Hemp fiber processing inspired by natural tidal stream patterns for more efficient material separation and processing.
Kelp Forest, Sea Grass (Flexible Swaying Motion)
Kelp and sea grass movement → wave energy converters.
Nature's bottom-up building processes
A 3D printed steel bridge developed by MX3D that uses nature's bottom-up construction principles to build complex structures additively.
Battery components Lithium-sulfur batteries have high capacity but short lifespans, and they must withstand high temperatures during fast discharge.
Yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicus)
Despite its square shape, the boxfish is one of the most hydrodynamically efficient swimmers in the ocean. Mercedes-Benz engineers discovered it has a drag coefficient of just 0.06 — and designed a concept car based entirely on its body plan that achieves unprecedented aerodynamic efficiency.
Branching: Optimal Distribution of Resources Branching is a common pattern in nature that maximizes efficiency in growth, transport, and resource distribution. Trees and plants use branching to spread leaves for optimal sunlight absorption.
Camouflage: Color matching, disruptive camouflage, mimesis Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an organism or object to blend into its surroundings, making it less visible to predators, prey, or observers.
Dendritic Patterns: Growth & Flow Optimization Dendritic patterns resemble the roots of trees and are found in nature for efficient transport and distribution. Blood vessels and nerve cells use dendritic structures to optimize oxygen flow and signal transmission.
Fibonacci Sequence: Mathematical Growth & Proportion The Fibonacci Sequence, or Golden Ratio, is a mathematical pattern where each number is the sum of the two before it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…). It appears in nature to optimize growth, efficiency, and structure.
Fractals: Maximize Distribution & Surface Area Fractals are self-repeating patterns found throughout nature. These structures maximize efficiency and adaptability. For example, trees and blood vessels use fractal branching to optimize nutrient and oxygen distribution.
Lattice Structures: Strength & Lightweight Design Lattice structures in nature provide strength, flexibility, and efficiency through repeating patterns of interconnected elements. Bird bones have lightweight lattice-like interiors for flight, balancing strength with reduced weight.
Optimized Flow: Fluid Flow & Energy Efficiency Fluid and aerodynamics in nature help organisms move efficiently through air and water. Birds and fish have streamlined bodies to reduce drag, allowing for faster, energy-efficient movement.
Spirals: Growth and Efficiency in Space Spirals are common in nature, appearing in shells, galaxies, hurricanes, and even DNA. These patterns optimize growth, strength, and energy efficiency.
Tessellations: Efficient Tiling Without Wasting Space Tessellation in nature involves repeating geometric patterns that fit together without gaps, optimizing strength, efficiency, and space usage. Honeycomb structures in beehives use hexagonal tessellation to store honey with minimal wax.
For R&D and product teams