Mother Nature's Design Workshop

abb_road writes "Scientists creating new surveillance and defense technologies are studying the insect world for inspiration. Biomimetic researchers working on devices ranging from 360 degree lenses to mine-disabling robots are using biological principals as the backbone of their work. From the article: 'The tried-and-true designs of many insects are the product of millions of years of evolution. Even so, they are not perfect models. Natural selection isn't just a matter of physiological perfection, but how an organism's traits suit it for a particular environment, scientists say. For this reason, Bandyopadhyay stresses it is important not to just copy nature's work, but to take the best parts of it and apply it elsewhere.'"

Comments

Re:Hoop Snakes

[stjobe]

In Australia, there is a Hoop Snake that takes its tail in its mouth and then goes bowling merrily along.

Maybe a mythological creature isn't the best example...

From the page you link to:

The hoop snake is a legendary creature of the United States and Australia [...] the hoop snake has never been accepted by the scientific community