30 Animals That Made Us Smarter : Stories of the Natural World That Inspired Human Ingenuity.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Aryee, Patrick.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Technological innovations.

Animal behavior.

Animal mechanics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (386 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

30 Animals That Made Us Smarter

Place of Publication:

Torino : Island Press, 2022.

Summary:

Did you know that mosquitoes' mouthparts are helping to develop pain-free surgical needles? Whod have thought that the humble mussel could inspire so many useful things, from plywood production to a "glue" that can cement the crowns on teeth? Or that the design of polar bear fur may one day help keep humans warm in space? In everything from fashion to architecture, medicine to transportation, it may surprise you how many extraordinary inventions have been inspired by the natural world.Take the woodpecker as one incredible example. Woodpeckers can face up to 1,2000 Gs of force, but they're protected from brain damage by the design of their beaks and skulls. These marvels of nature have inspired an array of cutting-edge ideas, from an advanced black box recorder for airplanes to an exceptionally strong bike helmet. In 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter, join wildlife biologist, TV host, and BBC podcaster Patrick Aryee as he tells stories of biomimicry, or innovations inspired by the natural world, which enrich our lives every day--and in some cases, save them.With Aryee's infectious curiosity and sense of wonder as inspiration, venture with us into the hidden world of biomimicry. 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter will reveal animals' exceptional powers and change the way you look at the natural world forever.

Contents:

Blueprints

The kingfisher and the bullet train

Octopus: the ultimate disguise

Return from the dead: the tardigrade

A woodpecker and a black box

Polar bears and insulation

Mosquitoes, wasps and advances in medical technology

Master-builders: termites

Cod and the cold

Elephant trunks and bionic arms

Birds, bats and bots

Fog harvesters

Sharks and hospitals

Explosive back end: bombardier beetle

Wind farm animals

Hedgehogs and helmets

Packing a punch: mantis shrimp

Snake: search and rescue

Natural architects and artists: butterflies

Giant fish and body armour

Cows and eco-friendly sewage

Pollution solution: manta rays

Glues from life to save life... and make cupboards!

Cats and road safety

High-rise sponges

Camels and cool medicine

Lobsters and space telescopes

Waterloo Station and pangolins

Swarms of ants and mini-bots

Implants and shocking tales

Incy wincy rescue

'The machines aren't coming: they're already here'.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781642832686

1642832685

OCLC:

1299388253