Naturally better
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چکیده
Biologists often find themselves awestruck by the elegant perfection of living organisms. From the sophisticated ventilation system of a termite mound to the tensile strength of spider silk, nature has invariably selected the most effective designs through billions of years of relentless evolutionary pressures. From molecules to organisms, scientists and engineers have repeatedly been enthralled by nature’s handiwork and have emulated natural designs in man-made innovations. A range of technological advances have been inspired by living organisms and examples of biomimicry now include synthetic materials with new mechanical properties that emulate mollusc shells, bones or sponge spicules; self-cleaning surfaces that copy the microstructure of lotus leaves; an echoreceiver for shallow-water operation modelled on dolphin sonar; and new photovoltaic techniques inspired by photosynthesis. “Technical solutions to problems usually optimize existing concepts as can be seen, for instance, in the development of the Otto engine, which has practically remained unchanged for a hundred years,” said Ralph Spolenak, Chair of the Laboratory for Nanometallurgy at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland. “If one wants to make big steps forward, one has to think out of the box and try completely new concepts. Natural solutions may, in this regard, be used as inspiration for new technological solutions.”
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