Nature's Super-Materials
- By Melissa Salpietra
- Posted 10.28.10
- NOVA
In the pursuit of stronger, cleaner, and altogether better
materials, scientists are turning to Mother Nature for
inspiration. Biomimicry (literally "imitating life") is a field
of science that studies naturally occurring processes and
designs and looks for ways to mimic them. In this slide show,
see some of the amazing structures and properties that animals
and plants have evolved, and learn about new human-made
super-materials they are giving rise to.
Launch Interactive
See some of Nature's stickiest, toughest, and cleanest
materials, and learn how they are inspiring new products.
Credits
Images:
-
(gecko foot, abalone shell, lotus leaf, shark scales)
- © Eye of Science/PhotoResearchers, Inc.
- (spider silk)
- Tina Carvalho/Photolibrary
- (cephalopod skin)
- Courtesy Greyson Hanlon
Related Links
-
David Pogue hosts a four-part special series exploring the
materials that will shape our future.
-
Super-strong hagfish slime might become the fabric of the
future.
-
From ceramics to steel, paper to plastics, certain basic
substances have long propped up civilization.
-
From diamonds to spider silk, see some of the hardest,
strongest, and toughest materials on Earth.
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