Nature Tech (Biomimetics)
Nature Tech is a documentary series exploring biomimetics, the science of looking to nature for answers to modern problems. The series consists of three episodes: Magic of Motion about the aerodynamics of how animals fly, swim and walk; The Material World that looks at amazing materials in nature we can use; and Lifepower searching for more efficient ways to generate energy and use it, from nature. The series looks at many ideas from nature that humans have adopted and could adopt, from Leonardo da Vinci's flying machines to hydrogen cars and biomimetic robots. With microscopic views of animals' skin, leg and motion, the series explains how something in nature works and what ideas we can adopt from nature.
| Episode 1 - Magic of Motion |
Episode 1 - Magic of Motion
Most animals, and even a few plants, move. They swim, walk, run or fly in a wide range of ways. This episode looks at how designers of planes, cars and robots have found inspiration in nature.
Episode 2 - The Material World
Nature invented a whole range of hi-tec materials long before we invented ceramics and plastics. And not only are they often better, but nature has also invented ingenious ways of building with them.
Episode 3 - Lifepower
Nature has to be efficient in the way it processes information and uses energy so when scientists began to look at nature with biomimetic eyes, it's not surprising that they started to see entirely new visions for our future.
| Related Links |
| Bionics - wikipedia Bionics (also known as bionical creativity engineering) is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. |
| From Nature to Engineering - Using Animal Models to Develop Materials Building nanostructures based on nature has multiple potential advantages, including low-cost, environmentally benign processing, exquisite control of architectural design, and the energy efficiency offered by complex living organisms. |
| Richard Hammond's Miracles of Nature This is a documentary series that reveals secret animal abilities from the natural world, and discovers how those same animals have inspired a series of unlikely human inventions at the very frontiers of science. |
| Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections This looks at how engineers and designers use historic inventions and clues from the natural world in ingenious ways to develop new buildings and machines. |
| Making Stuff This is a four-part NOVA documentary series hosted by David Pogue, exploring the materials that will shape our future. |