The Use of Biomimicry in the Environment - Term Paper Example

Table of contents Acknowledgement Executive summary………………………………………………………… 2 Introduction………………………………………………………………… 3 The use of Biomimicry in the environment…………………………………. 3 The use of Biomimicry in the medical field………………………………... 5 The use of Biomimicry in the field of design……………………………….. 6 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………… 8 Recommendations…………………………………………………………… 8 References…………………………………………………………………… 10 Biomimicry Executive summary Biomimicry basically refers to the art of emulating nature to come up with processes aimed at solving various challenges faced by human beings. Nature usually plants an important role in various fields. The natural activities are those which are done by both animals and by plants. These activities are such that they can easily be imitated through the use of human made processes to come up with other processes which work just like the natural one. This art is one of the most applicable in all fields. It is not just limited to the modified biological procedures, but can also be applied in other fields of research such as the environment as well as design among many others. The first chapter highlights on how various researchers have come up with inventions to solve both urban and rural environmental issues, using the natural things as models. Here, various environments have been modified to suit what would suit the survival of human beings as well as domestic and wild animals. Some of the methods include very elaborate procedures, while others include simple applications of nature. The second chapter explains on various examples in the medical field that show how the art of Biomimicry has influenced most inventions in that field. The major ones here include those of creation of drugs and other commodities aimed at solving the wide array of ailments facing human beings. The third chapter too is one that explicitly explains the use of this art in the field of design. Here the behaviors of plants, animals and other very small creations of nature have been adapted in creating human-made features ranging from the very small ones to the very large ones. Introduction Biomimicry is the process of imitating nature and natural processes to come up with measures that solve human problems. Here, nature is used as a model from which human beings come up with certain innovations. Given that nature is the point of reference, it is the one used to gauge the sustainability of any innovation, to determine how well it can work (Mackenzie 2010). This method of learning from nature rather than just using it has been implemented in many different fields. Below is a figure showing how humans mimic nature to come up with hardware equipment. The diagram shows the image of a bird and that of a hardware equipment made from the imitation of the bird. Source: http://fbei.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/biomimicry-may-be-major-economic-driver-for-san-diego/ The use of Biomimicry in the environment This art has been applied in both the urban and the rural environments. There are some plants which usually grow in the direction of the sun. These ones may be used to direct some important developments in urban areas. For instance, there exist some solar powered street lights. These ones usually harness solar energy during the day and then use it at night. As such, the trees are usually grown along the streets such that they can be used as indicators in terms of the direction tot which these lights should face for efficient functioning (Passino 2004). Urban environments have got very large populations which require great amounts of food. The food too is normally required in large and quick supplies. Given that the naturally growing animals and plants may not fully cater for the needs of people in this environment, researchers have come up with genetically modified plants and animals. These ones are provided with the conditions required for their thriving, though some additives which speed up the process are involved. Balance in any ecosystem is also considered as being very important. Urban areas may not have enough space for the keeping of various species of wildlife. Various places known as animal parks have however been set aside for this purpose. These places have been designed such that they appear like the natural habitat of these animals for their sustainability. The necessary plants and other features have been included in them as well as sources of water. There are some plants known as climbers. These ones usually have got weak stems such that they need to be supported on a framework along which they grow. Urban areas too are usually deficient of space. Given that plants are required for purposes such as purification of the air; these plants have been used in many urban centers. Here, they are designed to grow on even walls of buildings due to limited space owned by individual residents. When plants respire at night, they normally use oxygen and take in oxygen. Human beings too operate in the same way always. Urban environments which are too crowded may thus be affected due to accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with limited oxygen to serve the living organisms (Passino 2004). The accumulated carbon dioxide too would result in global warming. As such, places have been set aside such that large scale agriculture is done in a different place in order to bring balance in terms of the gases. Recycling of sewage and waste materials in the urban places also has been done in situ. This is considering the various elements contained in the wastes. The elements there are normally very rich in agricultural nutrients. As such, due to limited space to which the wastes can be directed, the material is usually directed to farms where plants end up thriving very well. Local environments may use the wastes to generate natural gas used in activities such as cooking. People in local areas next to large water bodies too have taken advantage of the natural energy that exists in sea water. Here, they use a large tube filled with water and sealed at both ends. One end is placed in the sea while the other end is in contact with an electric turbine. Any wave hitting the tube transmits an impulse at the end of the tube that turns the turbine hence generating electric energy for use. The use of Biomimicry in the medical field In the medical field, the art has been implemented widely. Among the problems that have been proven difficult to rectify is blindness. However, some two medical doctors Rick Montgomery and Taylor have decided to use this art to fight blindness. Initially, they thought that using computer chips would solve the problem. However, they realized that these gadgets are square in shape whereas the neurons have got a branching form in terms of appearance, and hence would lack compatibility. Using this factor of the shape of neurons, they are now designing some neuron-compatible implants to restore eyesight. These ones are known as nanoflowers which branch out in flower-like formations to mimic the neurons of the eye. Attached to these nanoflowers will be photodiodes (Passino 2004). These ones will be serving the function of collecting the incoming light, sending it to the eye neurons through the optic nerve and finally to the brain where the impulses undergo transduction into sight. Whereas the photodiodes are normally used to generate electrical energy in solar panels, they will in this model be used to generate vision. This innovation is expected to be rolled out in the next ten years. Doctor Taylor further states that if they can be used to coordinate with the neurons of the body, then they also can be used to work with the neurons of the other parts of the body to deal with problems such as paralysis. Usually, most medicines are derived from plants. The fact that there are very many plants in the environment would make it extremely difficult for scientists to go out examining the medicinal value in each plant. However, these scientists have decided to use some guides to determining which plants could be useful. The most observed species is the chimpanzee. There are some plants that this animal usually feeds on when it is ill. These are the plants which have been selected by the scientists and most of them found to be having medicinal value relevant to human beings (Reed 2004). Most of these plants have been identified as having some constituents responsible for dealing with some parasites such as hookworms in human beings. Fungi were identified as substances that hindered the thriving of different forms of bacteria by Alexander Fleming. The fungi then were used in developing antibiotics used in fighting bacterial infections. More drugs are still being manufactured from the same fungi as a result. When foreign substances enter the body through other channels other than orally, the white blood cells engulf them and they are attacked by antibodies which are very particular against a certain substance. The medical field has used the same knowledge to come up with vaccines which function in the same way to combat ailments such as tuberculosis and polio. The use of Biomimicry in the field of design In the field of design, scientists used biological processes to come up with many great inventions. For instance, the way the leaves harness energy from the sun for use in photosynthesis was used to come up with photovoltaic systems. Research is also underway using the same model of the nature of the leaves to come up with more flexible and cost effective cells (The Futurist. 2011). These ones are to be designed such that they work just like the chlorophyll in leaves does. The bumpy surface of a lotus leaf as got a self cleaning mechanism that allows it to get rid of any dirt on it easily. The same technique has been applied in the manufacture of many things such as glass, paints and tiles among many others, which reduces the need for regular cleaning, maintenance and replacement costs. Animals too have been imitated in the way they function to come up with some important designs. For instance, the thorny devil which is a desert lizard gathers all the water from the rain and from the soil. The water then moves up into its mouth by capillary action through the circulatory system on it skin. The same technique could be implemented in the water supply system of naturally distilled water, so as to reduce on cost and energy used in the pumping. The initial idea on the development of aircrafts was hatched by Leonardo Da Vinci. The motivation was derived from the fact that even very heavy birds could fly. After some keen observations and research, he came with some designs which were not as successful though. However, the Wright brothers proceeded on with the research and finally managed to fly the first plane. The design of the plane was purely based on that of the birds while they were in the air flying. In living organisms, a healing response is usually triggered on injury. Provided it is not very intense, the bodies of those organisms can simply heal without any special attention. The same has been applied in designing some polymers. These are structures used in building. Here, they are designed such that they contain some capsules embedded in them. On slight damage such as cracking of those polymers, the capsules rapture releasing some material that helps the polymers repair themselves naturally. This would be vital in reducing the replacement and costs of repair. Besides, buildings could be made of more durable structures. Spiders can create web silk whose strength matches that of thee bullet proof vests. The inspiration by the work of these organisms can be drawn by engineers to come up with tough suspension bridge cables, artificial ligaments for medicine and for many other objects. Termites too have got a way of designing their premises such that they remain cool inside always despite the external temperatures. The same has been noted by researchers involved in the designing of buildings, such that they can design buildings that maintain constant temperatures without necessarily using any air conditioners. Conclusion It evident that most innovations are as a result of the imitations of nature. Researchers interested in coming up with innovations, have inclined their attention more towards observing the living organism and their various forms, in order to create sustainable inventions. The innovative projects whose basis is on the various processes and designs of nature are also considered as being the most effective. A number of innovative projects too are underway and all the researchers hoping to have their inventions work, have nature as their major model. Recommendations In the urban environment, some creations such as the genetically modified organisms should be used minimally. This is because they have got a number of negative effects attached to their use. Besides, they do not contain as much nutrients as the organisms that occur naturally. Development in the recent world is based on implementation of high quality designs. The experts in the field of design thus should be committed towards creating more and sustainable designs of buildings, machines and vehicles among other facilities. In the medical field, the researchers should be aware of the fact that bacteria and other disease causing organisms keep mutating every other time. As such, they should ensure that the drugs created through mimicry of nature are those that are in the best capacity to deal with the microorganisms involved. Reference List Mackenzie, D. 2010, Surry Hills – So How Does It Work? Architecture Australia Passino, K. M. (2004). Biomimicry for Optimization, Control, And Automation. London, Springer. Reed, P. A, 2004. A Paradigm Shift: Biomimicry. The Technology Teacher The Futurist. 2011, Biomimicry To Fight Blindness. World Trends And Forecasts Read More