1, the fly and the camera
The fly's compound eye structure inspired humans to invent the fly-eye camera, which can take more than 1,000 high-definition photos at a time. Waterproof self-cleaning products, from the lotus leaf effect, the surface of these lotus leaves with micron-sized protruding cells, the cells are covered with a layer of nanometer-sized waxy crystals, these structures make the lotus leaf hydrophobic, out of the mud. In fact, there are many more inventions that draw on the structure and function of living things.
2, bullet train and kingfisher
In 1964, before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, Japan launched the world's first bullet train, which was one of the fastest trains at the time, the speed can reach 210 kilometers per hour, the fastest speed of the train in Europe at that time for the 160 kilometers per hour, the successful operation of the bullet train, the renewed impetus to the world's countries to build high-speed railroads interest. So, today's high-speed rail system is so developed thanks to this Japanese invention back then.
The engineer who designed the bullet train at the time was also a bird observer, and he thought of the kingfisher. When a kingfisher catches a fish, it rushes from air with less resistance into water with more resistance, and it also experiences sharp changes in resistance with only a small splash. The mystery lies in the fact that the kingfisher has a long, streamlined, pointed bill that gets wider the closer you get to the face so that the water can flow smoothly backward.
3. Fish and cars
On China's highways, when speeds exceed 100 kilometers per hour, cars in the same lane have to maintain a distance of more than 100 meters, and when speeds are lower than that, the minimum spacing has to be kept at more than 50 meters. In the sea, however, fish traveling at high speeds don't need to do this. The fish are so close to each other that they mimic the movements of the fish around them, keeping their collective movements synchronized, so how can they not worry about crashing?
This is because the fish can detect small changes in the water pressure around them by means of a long snorkel tube. This linear sensor is so sensitive that it can transmit information about changes in the environment to the central nervous system, allowing the fish to react quickly. The fish's skill inspired Japanese scientists to invent a robot called EPORO.
4. Butterflies inspired e-reading
E-readers have changed the way everyone reads. With long-lasting power, large storage capacity, and easy portability, these devices allow people to read tons of books without going to the library. However, to date, most e-readers have required an embedded LCD light, have monochromatic screen text, and are often unreadable in bright sunlight.
But now those problems have been solved. Qualcomm has introduced a display that not only allows you to read the display in sunlight, but also has a colorful screen that fully restores the colors of the screen. And it was butterflies that inspired the researchers.
5, the gecko's feet and adhesive
In 1968, in the United States, 3M engineers Spencer Silver tried to develop a strong adhesive, and ultimately he invented a very weak viscous adhesive, which can be repeatedly pasted, but also does not leave traces. Another 3M engineer then combined this adhesive with strips of paper, and the first sticky note was born.
However, there has been no fundamental progress in adhesive technology since then, and the question of how to stick two objects together for a long time remains a difficult one for humans to answer. Geckos, however, apparently don't have a problem with this, as they can easily fly up and down walls, and even when the surface of an object is smooth, they can still stick to it.
And the mystery lies in the millions of sub-nanometer fine hairs on the soles of their feet, which can manipulate the gravitational force between negative electrons and positive protons, and use intermolecular forces to stick to the surface of objects. So geckos don't have to grip the surface of an object hard and remove the stickiness as soon as they move their feet out of the way.