Nature Loves Efficiency-- Part 1

First I would like to share with you  a quote from Deepak Chopra-- a best-selling alternative medicine practitioner and author. He said,

“Nature loves efficiency, which is very odd for something supposedly working at random. When you drop a ball, it falls straight down without taking any unexpected detours. When two molecules with the potential for bonding meet, they always bond- there is no room for indecision. This expenditure of least energy, also called the law of least effort, covers human beings, too. Certainly our bodies cannot escape the efficiency of the chemical processes goings on in each cell, so it is probable that our whole being is wrapped up in the same principle. This argument also applies to personal growth- the idea that everyone is doing the best he or she can from his or her own level of consciousness”

As you are probably aware, I am an environmentalist inspired by the systematic implementation of sustainable practices—essentially I am interested in how we can eliminate waste streams by rerouting them for beneficial use. In preparation for my essay, I also read and listened to many experts on the nature’s efficiency and was able to find examples of biomimicry in use today.

By the end of my two installments, I hope that you will want to implement biomimicry into contemporary technologies by looking at life on earth as both interdependent and interconnected.

Nature and human beings have always been intertwined, but just in the last few decades we have distanced ourselves from nature. Which has only reminded us of our deep dependence on its resources. In order to implement biomimicry, we must first explore and deepen our relationship with nature. This means we need to spend more time learning about local and global ecosystems, to motivate positive contributions, and to respect the balance and interdependence of the organisms around us. Nature is always deliberate and effective, I think that by emulating these useful biological processes we can help humans live a more sustainable future.

As the population continues to grow, so does the waste we create. Our dependence on disposable materials will certainly affect future generations and their quality of life, if we continue to live extravagant and wasteful lives.

What is waste? Waste is defined as an unwanted or undesirable material. How can we reroute waste so that it is no longer undesirable? For example, when you eat a banana instead of throwing the peel in the waste bin, perhaps you could add it to your compost pile. This would enable your banana peel-- and perhaps the rest of your food waste-- to be transformed from a waste product into a source of nutrients for the soil.

You may be wondering, “won’t the peel do that in a landfill too?” NO!!! In a landfill, there is little to no access to important ingredients involved in the decomposition process-- oxygen, water, and sunlight. If you were to throw your banana peel into the bushes by your house, it will disappear in a month or so. If you sent this exact same banana peel to the landfill it could be preserved for decades, all while releasing harmful greenhouse gases.

To be able to work effectively, most microorganisms that assist the biodegradation need light, water and oxygen. Temperature is also an important factor in determining the rate of biodegradation. This is because microorganisms tend to reproduce faster in warmer conditions.

It is very clear that no one likes trash or pollution, but how can we change our waste into energy-- for use somewhere else?The simple answer to our ever-growing issues with waste generation is biomimicry.

What is biomimicry? Biomimicry is nature-inspired technology. Biomimicry is the conscious imitation of nature’s genius by using nature as a source of inspiration for design. Since the beginning of time, famous inventors have been utilizing these effective natural methods. Nature is 100% effective in its processes and even goes beyond participation, by creating conditions that increase the quality of life.

Michael Pawlyn, a British architect noted for his work in the field biomimetic architecture and innovation, suggests that, "You could look at nature as being like a catalog of products, and all of those have benefitted from a 3.8-billion-year research and development period. And given that level of investment, it makes sense to use it." This makes sense, particularly when you note the interconnectedness and interdependence of life on earth.

An example of the interdependence between organisms is the relationship between plants and fungi. In mycorrhizal symbiosis, fungi attach to a plant’s root system and convert minerals into substances that the plant can absorb, additionally, the plant provides the fungi with sugars from photosynthesis. Essentially plants and fungi participate in a mutually beneficial exchange where phosphorus is transferred to plants and sugars are transferred to fungi. Plants and fungi are able to enhance productivity through their cooperation.  As you can see,

Animals and plants have maintained cyclical lifestyles that encourage future expansion. By integrating natural biological processes, we could increase the carrying capacity of the earth by reducing, and perhaps even eventually eliminate, anthropogenic pollution. All this could be done by mimicking processes from other organisms.

Van Jones is an environmentalist and human rights activist. He thinks that we can use biomimicry, which he defines as respecting the wisdom of all species, to create the things we need by using biological processes. He suggests that we use inspiration from other species to open the door to zero waste production and zero pollution production.

Through the interpretation of these natural processes biomimicry creates the possibility of a ‘net zero impact.’ (NZE) Tim McGee, a biologist specializing in biomimicry, makes the point that nature, “is almost never net-zero-- the output from the system is usually beneficial to everything around it.”

A professor and his PhD student uncovered a technique used by penguins to swim at extremely fast speeds. Among one of the few species of bird that is flightless, penguins have wings and bodies that are optimized instead for “flying” through the water. Scientists say that penguins are able to do this with the help of air lubrication. Basically, the penguins take air in with their feathers, as they swim they expel tiny air bubbles that lubricate the penguins, and ultimately reduce the amount of drag through the water. Additionally, penguins can blast out of water in order to reach land by using the air bubbles as a form of propulsion. By understanding the specific and intentional design of penguins by nature, I think we can apply the same techniques in water transportation, torpedo technologies, and maybe even swimwear.


This is the the end of my first installment. I hope you have enjoyed learning about nature's efficiency, some specialists in the field of biomimicry, and about a few biomimetic products. Next time I will discuss some biomimetic implementations to help produce green energies and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally I would like to contemplate how we, as individuals, can encourage the creation and implementation of both natural and thoughtful designs.