The answers have been there all along. According to its definition, biomimicry is an approach to innovation that utilizes proven strategies and designs that have already been adapted by nature. In other words, we are now learning from nature, rather than about nature:          

• The bumps on the flippers of the humpback whale help them to “grip” the water. This aerodynamic characteristic has been used in the design of wind turbines and is working to enhance the safety and performance of airplanes. 

• Modeling the front of a European hi-speed train after the beak of a kingfisher created a quieter ride and the use of 15 percent less electricity while the train traveled 10 percent faster. 

• Emulating a dolphin’s unique frequency capabilities, a high-performance underwater system has been developed as a tsunami warning system. 

I happen to dabble in Biomimetics on the side. It doesn’t take long to discover that the natural world is chock full of concepts that are just begging to be adapted. During my research, some stood out more than others.

Make room, $2.5 billion dating market; here’s a new concept that will revolutionize the dating world. No more wondering if you should wait three days to call or if you talked too much at dinner. IImitating the sage grouse mating rituals eliminates the stress and cuts to the chase. The male struts, fans his tail much like that of a peacock and makes a strange popping sound to attract a female mate; done! Call it the “Magic Mike” of the bird world, but I think there might be something to this. 

The next time you shoo away ants, take the time to view a colony at work. Jobs are defined and assigned. Teamwork and organization are key. Persistence overcomes obstacles, and goals are met. No fancy business consultants are required to run this operation like a well-oiled machine. Instead of those expensive employee team-building activities, I envision Ant 101: groups of employees out in a park, lying on their stomachs on the ground with iPads and laptops, documenting their tiny compadres’ remarkable achievements. 

The bad news: a female polar bear gains 400 pounds during pregnancy. The good news: during delivery, she digs a maternity den in a snowdrift, hibernates for two months, and sleeps through her pregnancy. Baby shower, dig, hibernate, baby, Slim Fast for a year or two; call me crazy, but this just might beat out the new luxury birthing experiences being touted lately. Oh, and after two years, baby polar bears have been completely acclimated to their surroundings and are sent out on their own. That would mean no college bills and the longest empty nesting in history!

I now have a newfound respect for the environment. Each time I visit a zoo, hear a bird singing, or admire a flower in bloom, I’ll remember to slow down and wonder what we’ll be mirroring someday soon.