30 animals that made us smarter : stories of the natural world that inspired human ingenuity

30 animals that made us smarter Stories of the natural world that inspired human ingenuity

Patrick Aryee

Book - 2022

"Accompanying a new series of the hit BBC podcast, a fascinating exploration of how the animal world has inspired human progress via new inventions and solutions that impact our daily lives. Did you know that mosquitoes' mouthparts are helping to develop pain-free surgical needles? Who'd have thought that the humble mussel could inspire so many useful things, from plywood production to a 'glue' that cements the crowns on teeth and saves unborn babies in the womb? How about the fact that studying the tiny kingfisher solved engineering problems with Japan's ultra-high-speed bullet train, or that the humpback whale's flipper helped design the most efficient blades for wind power turbines? For many years, huma...ns have been using the natural world as inspiration for everything from fashion to architecture, and medicine to transport, and it may come as a surprise to learn how many inventions have been motivated by animal design and behaviour. Dive into the depths with us as author Patrick Aryee reveals even more astonishing stories about animals' exceptional powers and the unique contributions they've made to the quality of our everyday lives. Beautiful hand-drawn illustrations accompany his revelations and bring the natural world to life"--Publisher's description.

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Subjects
Animals and civilization.
Animal behavior.
Biomimicry.
Animal mechanics.
Animals > Adaptation.
Technological innovations.
Published
Washington, DC : Island Press 2022.
Language
English
Main Author
Patrick Aryee (author)
Other Authors
Michael Bright (author), Lizzie Harper (illustrator)
Item Description
"Inspired by the hit BBC News World Service podcast"--Cover.
Physical Description
377 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
ISBN
9781642832679
  • Blueprints
  • 1. The Kingfisher and the Bullet Train
  • 2. Octopus: The Ultimate Disguise
  • 3. Return from the Dead: The Tardigrade
  • 4. A Woodpecker and a Black Box
  • 5. Polar Bears and Insulation
  • 6. Mosquitoes, Wasps and Advances-in Medical Technology
  • 7. Master-Builders: Termites
  • 8. Cod and the Cold
  • 9. Elephant Trunks and Bionic Arms
  • 10. Birds, Bats and Bots
  • 11. Fog Harvesters
  • 12. Sharks and Hospitals
  • 13. Explosive Back End: Bombardier Beetle
  • 14. Wind Farm Animals
  • 15. Hedgehogs and Helmets
  • 16. Packing a Punch: Mantis Shrimp
  • 17. Snake: Search and Rescue
  • 18. Natural Architects and Artists: Butterflies
  • 19. Giant Fish and Body Armour
  • 20. Cows and Eco-Friendly Sewage
  • 21. Pollution Solution: Manta Rays
  • 22. Glues from Life to Save Life... and Make Cupboards!
  • 23. Cats and Road Safety
  • 24. High-Rise Sponges
  • 25. Camels and Coo! Medicines
  • 26. Lobsters and Space Telescopes
  • 27. Waterloo Station and Pangolins
  • 28. Swarms of Ants and Mini-Bots
  • 29. Implants and Shocking Tales
  • 30. Incy Wincy Rescue
  • 'The machines aren't coming: they're already here'
Review by Booklist Review

This fascinating book explores numerous examples of biomimicry, the relatively new scientific field in which humans create innovative technology inspired by animals. Got a bullet train that's too noisy? Redesign the front end like the bill of a kingfisher. Need to build ever-higher skyscrapers? Check out the amazingly strong and flexible construction of a sponge. Each chapter offers detailed information about various critters' distinctive attributes and explains how observant humans have developed scientific solutions modeled after these special features. Highly detailed and extremely close-up black line illustrations appear occasionally, helping clarify applications, especially for microscopic subjects like tardigrades (which offer helpful survival tips for space travelers). Readers learn about scientific breakthroughs that range from hospitals experimenting with bacteria-resistant surfaces emulating shark skin to bionic arms modeled after elephant trunks. Author Aryee, a former wildlife filmmaker, is a great storyteller, and it's not surprising to learn that these excerpts are based on his BBC podcast series (which shares this book's name). Animals learned to adapt through natural selection, he emphasizes, so why shouldn't we humans take cues from the natural world? Aryee's seamless balancing of animal facts and accessible technology writing makes for a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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