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| Imitating nature | | January
5 , 2003. | The creation of tools and instruments
for our daily use is the result of minds with the ability to observe nature and
copy or imitate models it has perfected over millions of years of evolution. In
this article, we intend to show various examples where nature has acted to solve
its survival problems and man has followed her lead to make his own existence
easier and more practical. Weddel's seal inhabits the coast
of Antarctica where it feeds on fish and squid even when the oceans are frozen.
To get the fish like cod it needs to reach great depths. Some have gone as deeply
as 490 meters (over 1,600 feet), placing them among the best divers in the world
of seals. Seals sleep near breathing holes made in the
superficial layer of ice, with their snouts sticking out while the rest of their
bodies remain submerged in the water. They maintain that position by filling their
throat with air (an ability they share with other seals) so that this may bring
them to the surface. The principle is the same that served as a basis for the
manufacture and operation of a life-saving vest which enables people to float
on the surface and breathe without taking in any water. For
its part, a Rattan tree can grow as much as 200 meters (over 600 feet) in length,
wrapping itself among the trees by means of the barbs located at the tip of its
leaves, similar to the grappling hooks used by mountain climbers. The hollow Rattan
branches that become so hard when they dry up that they are used in the manufacture
of furniture, are filled with water that flows through the entire length of the
plant. Until the end of World War II, some German submarines
were fitted with a ventilation tube that could reach the surface to replenish
the air in the ship. This allowed it to continue moving forward propelled by their
diesel motors while they would recharge their electric ones. The
breathing tube or snorkel allowed submarines to continue operating in relative
safety, except for the destroyers of the Allied Forces. Although it appeared extremely
ingenious, this technique was not new. The mosquito's larva is one of the various
insects that use a similar method for similar purposes - to reach their goal without
being detected. It has been said that humans conceived
the idea of making paper from watching the building materials used by wasps, although
the latter's finished product looks more like papier maché than newsprint. All
the paper manufacturing processes have something in common. Just like the paper
mill makes wood pulp and mixes it with agglutination agents, the wasp chews the
dry wood with its saliva to make little balls with it. Each ball is then transported
to the location of the nest where it is pulled thin to add to the walls or interior
of the nest. Although the finished structure may look
light and fragile, in fact it is quite strong due to the wood fibers of the pulp
that were laid out lengthwise. The gray color of the wasp nests is due to the
insect's tendency to get its construction material from nearby posts, as well
as tables and doors. Wax is the main ingredient used to
decorate the interior of a bees' nest, and the bees make it themselves. Another
important substance is a resin called "propóleo" derived from
the buds of flowers and the secretions of some trees. They use propóleo
to fill cracks and maintain the temperatures in the nest at optimum levels. However
propóleo also has another application. If a strange animal, like a rat
for instance, penetrates their nest, the bees sting it to death. But as they cannot
move the body, they cover it with that resin to embalm it. In the world of humans,
it is said that propóleo was one of the ingredients in the secret recipe
for the preparation of the varnish used by the great Italian violin makers like
Amati and Stradivarius, a varnish that improved the resonance of their instruments. The
lightness and apparent fragility of spider webs enjoy widespread fame. But in
reality the material used to create them is, gram for gram, more resistant than
steel, more elastic than rubber and more resistant than bullet-proof vests. Recent
advances in the production of synthetic silk have opened new horizons in surgery,
space technology and the manufacture of break-proof ropes and parachutes. As
a final example, we could mention plants of the Arctia genus which are contained
in some sheaths formed by hundreds of little hooks. They stick to the skin or
clothing of anyone who passes close by, like the contact adhesives trademarked
under the Velcro name. Velcro is used in the manufacture of sports shoes, jackets,
tents, sleeping bags and a multitude of other products, including the suits worn
by astronauts. cupul@pvmirror.com Archives
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