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

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Title:

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

Author:

Aryee, Patrick, author.

ISBN:

9781642832679

Physical Description:

377 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Contents:

Blueprints -- The kingfisher and the bullet train -- Octopus: the ultimate disguise -- Return from the dead: the tardigrade -- A woodpecker and a black box -- Polar bears and insulation -- Mosquitoes, wasps and advances in medical technology -- Master-builders: termites -- Cod and the cold -- Elephant trunks and bionic arms -- Birds, bats and bots -- Fog harvesters -- Sharks and hospitals -- Explosive back end: bombardier beetle -- Wind farm animals -- Hedgehogs and helmets -- Packing a punch: mantis shrimp -- Snake: search and rescue -- Natural architects and artists: butterflies -- Giant fish and body armour -- Cows and eco-friendly sewage -- Pollution solution: manta rays -- Glues from life to save life... and make cupboards! -- Cats and road safety -- High-rise sponges -- Camels and cool medicine -- Lobsters and space telescopes -- Waterloo Station and pangolins -- Swarms of ants and mini-bots -- Implants and shocking tales -- Incy wincy rescue -- 'The machines aren't coming: they're already here'.

Subject Term:

Animals and civilization.

Animal mechanics.

Animal behavior.

Technological innovations.

Added Author:

Bright, Michael,

Harper, Lizzie,

Summary:

"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, humans 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." --

Holds:

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Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Oakdale Library	591 ARY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	591 ARY	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

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 can cement the crowns on teeth? Or that the design of polar bear fur may one day help keep humans warm in space? In everything from fashion to architecture, medicine to transportation, it may surprise you how many extraordinary inventions have been inspired by the natural world.

Take the woodpecker as one incredible example. Woodpeckers can face up to 1,2000 Gs of force, but they're protected from brain damage by the design of their beaks and skulls. These marvels of nature have inspired an array of cutting-edge ideas, from an advanced black box recorder for airplanes to an exceptionally strong bike helmet. In 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter , join wildlife biologist, TV host, and BBC podcaster Patrick Aryee as he tells stories of biomimicry, or innovations inspired by the natural world, which enrich our lives every day--and in some cases, save them.

With Aryee's infectious curiosity and sense of wonder as inspiration, venture with us into the hidden world of biomimicry. 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter will reveal animals' exceptional powers and change the way you look at the natural world forever.

Author Notes

As a biologist and self-confessed thrill seeker, Patrick Aryee has always had a fascination with how things work. Since 2012, Patrick has been a documentary filmmaker and wildlife TV presenter across a number of programs for major broadcasters, including the BBC and Sky. As the presenter of the successful podcast 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter, Patrick now brings us his expertise and infectious sense of curiosity in written form in his first book.

Reviews (1)

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.

Blueprints	p. 1
1 The Kingfisher and the Bullet Train	p. 9
2 Octopus: The Ultimate Disguise	p. 18
3 Return from the Dead: The Tardigrade	p. 33
4 A Woodpecker and a Black Box	p. 45
5 Polar Bears and Insulation	p. 55
6 Mosquitoes, Wasps and Advances-in Medical Technology	p. 67
7 Master-Builders: Termites	p. 83
8 Cod and the Cold	p. 93
9 Elephant Trunks and Bionic Arms	p. 103
10 Birds, Bats and Bots	p. 114
11 Fog Harvesters	p. 133
12 Sharks and Hospitals	p. 144
13 Explosive Back End: Bombardier Beetle	p. 156
14 Wind Farm Animals	p. 165
15 Hedgehogs and Helmets	p. 179
16 Packing a Punch: Mantis Shrimp	p. 189
17 Snake: Search and Rescue	p. 199
18 Natural Architects and Artists: Butterflies	p. 210
19 Giant Fish and Body Armour	p. 225
20 Cows and Eco-Friendly Sewage	p. 236
21 Pollution Solution: Manta Rays	p. 246
22 Glues from Life to Save Life... and Make Cupboards!	p. 257
23 Cats and Road Safety	p. 272
24 High-Rise Sponges	p. 281
25 Camels and Coo! Medicines	p. 291
26 Lobsters and Space Telescopes	p. 308
27 Waterloo Station and Pangolins	p. 319
28 Swarms of Ants and Mini-Bots	p. 330
29 Implants and Shocking Tales	p. 341
30 Incy Wincy Rescue	p. 351
'The machines aren't coming: they're already here'	p. 367

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