Good morning,
Learning from nature means being successful, because our nature has an optimal solution for just about everything. The design plans of life, the innovative power of many natural systems are almost perfect engineering skills, tested and developed over the last four billion years. During this time, only solutions that made the most efficient and economical use of existing resources and were in harmony with the environment prevailed on our planet. What could be more obvious than to rely on this experience when solving today’s problems and to imitate the genius of nature wherever possible?
Lesch’s Cosmos: Nature as a Role ModelNovember 29, 2022 | 30:15 minutes
Scientifically, the transfer of natural solutions to technology is called “biomimetics” or “bionics”. There are numerous successful examples, the best known being Velcro. Another the lotus effect. The unique combination of vegetable waxes and the surface structure of the lotus flower is copied and used for dirt-repellent paint. Shark skin serves as a model for swimming suits and for covering aircraft parts; the dolphin skin as a template for an environmentally friendly boat paint that repels growth.
As chief engineer, the Japanese Eiji Nakatsu solved one of the biggest problems with the Japanese high-speed train “Shinkansen”. Every time the train left a tunnel, an enormous pressure wave was released, followed by a loud bang. Bird lover Nakatsu found the solution in the animal world: the blunt, round tip of the train was replaced by an elongated nose modeled on the kingfisher’s beak – and the bang disappeared.
Bullet train “Shinkansen” in Tokyo (archive image)
Source: dpa
Today, science assumes that bionics offers “natural” answers for almost every area – whether in architecture, medicine, sensor technology, waste problems or simply for everyday life. Researchers have copied the structure of the glowing organ of fireflies and are using it to improve the luminosity of LED lamps. The French biologist Sandra Rey uses self-luminous bacteria from the sea to create completely new lighting devices.
plan b: lights off, stars on03/23/2023 | 29:47 minutes
Bricks and building materials made from fungi or bacteria could permanently change the construction industry and reduce CO2 emissions from cement or concrete production. Lightweight construction methods based on honeycombs or ventilation systems, copied from termite buildings, are also finding their way into the world of construction. Man-made spider silk could help heal wounds, repair nerves or create new tissue.
The researchers at the German Center for Aerospace Technology in Braunschweig are also inspired by nature’s diversity of innovation. There, the feathers and down of owls serve as a template for special brushes that are attached to aircraft wings to minimize aircraft noise.
plan b: Finally peace13.01.2022 | 29:45 minutes
Evolution has provided the blueprints for virtually all problems. Now it’s up to us to take a closer look and be smart enough to accept this unique and free expert advice.
I wish you a lot of confidence and a nice weekend
Your Christian Dezer, editorial director plan b
What was still good this week
Cheaper solar cells: Scientists from various universities in China and Great Britain have jointly developed new solar cells in a project. Thanks to special carbon nanotubes, the solar panels are not only lighter, but also more efficient because the solar cells can absorb sunlight from both sides. This leads to higher performance and makes the new cells up to 70 percent cheaper than conventional solar cells.
“Marriage for all” in Thailand: Thailand’s lower house has overwhelmingly voted to legalize same-sex marriage. This would make the kingdom the first country in Southeast Asia to give same-sex couples this right. Now the Senate has to agree, which rarely rejects laws that have passed the lower house. Afterwards the approval of the king is pending.
Sensor detects dangerous bacteria: Researchers at the Goethe University Frankfurt and the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel were able to develop a novel bacterial sensor. Dangerous pathogens are lured with a tailor-made surface. This means that only very specific microorganisms collect and stick to the sensor. The greater the number of pathogens, the stronger the signal the detector produces.
Your portion of constructive things on the weekend
Fortunately, the number of rabbits has increased again this year. Many people and measures contribute to this. The “plan b” documentary Fairohrhasen shows how great the help is for other animals: At Easter he is omnipresent – the Easter bunny. But how is the real brown hare actually doing in Germany? And can we enjoy its chocolate siblings with a clear conscience?03/21/2024 | 29:45 minutesIf you would like to subscribe to our ZDFheute update, you can here do or in yours ZDFheute app under My News / Settings / ZDFheute update subscription.
Compiled by Christian Dezer and Rebecca Pavolka.