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Title details for 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter by Patrick Aryee - Available

30 Animals That Made Us Smarter

Stories of the Natural World That Inspired Human Ingenuity

by Patrick Aryee
ebook
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1 of 1 copy available
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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 12, 2022

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781642832686

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781642832686
      • File size: 6704 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Booklist

      Starred review from April 15, 2022
      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.

      COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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