Packed with 18 spreads of engineering marvels, this book offers a brief introduction to the world of biomimicry (defined here as “the design and creation of materials, buildings, and processes that are modeled on nature”). Madden covers the Japanese Rail’s bullet train (based on the kingfisher bird’s beak), a type of concrete inspired by coral reefs, and space-focused examples, such as the lower body negative pressure device, designed by mimicking the blood flow of the long-legged giraffe. Many readers will be surprised to learn that the tiny nanotubes found in an astronaut’s spacesuit were designed by engineers who found inspiration from the hollow hair follicles of a polar bear. The pages are vivid and engaging, full of brilliantly colored photos of plants and animals, from a close-up of a lobster that inspired an X-ray device to a vibrant image of a pink lotus leading to the development of self-cleaning fabrics. The insets of the engineering creations, however, are a bit small, with text that’s somewhat difficult to read. STEM enthusiasts may find themselves wanting more from the descriptions of some of the engineering products; on the whole, though, this is a fascinating introduction.
WHO KNEW?
