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Self-Powered Plane
In 1890, Clément Ader created the first plane. The "Eole" was based off of the wings of a bat and was powered by an extremely light steam engine. Although it only rose 8 inches off the ground, the Eole was technically the first plane to ever be built. -
Camouflage
Hugh B. Cott researched many different camouflaging animals in the course of publishing his book, Adaptive Coloration in Animals, in 1940. He developed the technology during World War I. It has since been modified and improved upon; recently, scientists have begun looking into motion camouflage, similar to the dragonfly. -
Velcro
George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, developed Velcro when he took his dog for a walk and noticed that burrs caught to the dog's fur. After closer inspection, the burrs were found to have a series of hooks that caught onto any surface with loops – clothing, hair, or fur. Using this system, de Mestral developed Velcro. -
Faster Boats
In 1984, 3M Company developed a riblet skin to be used on the sides of boats to reduce the friction between the boats and the water. The riblet skin was based off of the skin of sharks. In 1987, this technology, used in Stars and Stripes, won the America's Cup for America. -
Eastgate Center
Architect Mick Pearce designed the Eastgate Center in central Harare, Zimbabwe in 1996. The shopping center is ventilated entirely by natural means, similar to the to the enormous mounds built by African termites. The mounds maintain a constant temperature by allowing cold air to enter from the lower sections and hot air to escape from the chimneys. -
Dry Adhesive Tape
In 2002, scientists working at Lewis & Clark College, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, and Stanford University discovered why geckos are able to stick to nearly any surface. Due to the size and shape of the hair on the undersides of their feet, van der Waals forces between the hair on their feet and the surface on which they walk allow the animals to travel on almost any plane. Scientists have translated this to dry adhesive tape and are working on creating more uses for the adhesive. -
Bilayer Fabrics
The pine cone opens up to release its seeds based on the humidity around it. The moisture-sensitive outer layer shrinks or expands in response to the moisture around it. Scientists at the University of Bath are working on creating a fabric that opens its pores when the miositure levels increase (from sweating in warm weather); in this way, the fabric allows for cooling.
