Vocabulary
Define 'biomimicry'
using models from nature to solve problems
Was is found on the lotus plant that keeps its leaves clean and dry?
A lotus leaf is covered with thousands of tiny bumps and grooves that trap air bubbles. The air bubbles act as a barrier to keep dirt and water from sticking to the leaves.
How did Japan solve the noise problem on their ultra-fast trains?
The redesigned the front of the train based on the beak of the kingfisher bird to allow the air to slide by more easily.
Why do scientists study the way dolphins communicate?
To develop devices that can predict tsunamis
What does the sandcastle worm produce that has been used to help doctors?
a glue that works underwater
define 'designs'
plans and instructions for how to build something
What are scientists creating based on ideas from the natural world?
new products
How fast can the great white shark swim because of the design of its scales?
It can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
In what year did a tsunami damage villages in Southeast Asia?
2004
What is the idea that scientists are using to develop a robot that can move in new ways and go to areas where people cannot go?
The toes of the gecko that allow them to climb walls and walk across ceilings.
define 'engineers'
people who design and build engines and other machinery
Creating new products based on the natural world is called what?
biomimicry
Some carmakers used the design of bee's eyes to develop what feature for cars?
Ways to prevent cars from colliding with each other to prevent crashes.
A company has copied the way dolphins send messages. Why?
It built a device that can send information on several different frequencies at once.
What is the name of the robot based on the gecko?
Stickybot
Define 'microscopic'
something so small it can only be seen through a microscope
What models are scientists studying?
Plants and animals with very clever features
What did designers maker for Olympic swimmers that was based on the great white shark's scales?
High-tech swimsuits
What two things led to improvements in cell phones?
Butterfly wings and bird feathers
Name two things that Stickybot might be able to do in the future?
Climb skyscrapers or crawl under bridges or climb up slippery glass or metal
a huge wave caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions
What did experts create that imitates the surface of the lotus leaf?
Special paints that repel dirt and water; they clean themselves
What did aircraft engineers develop based on the design of the shark's scales?
The developed a foil coating for the wings of airplanes that result in less drag and faster speeds.
From the CONCLUSION:
What are the possibilities for using nature to help design new products or improve old ones?
The possibilities are as endless as nature itself!
Where did scientists get the idea to improve Mars rovers and make them inflatable?
Tumbleweeds because they are blown about by the wind.