Biomimicry

by Benyus, Janine M.

• ISBN13: 9780688136918
• ISBN10: 0688136915
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-06-01
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co

Summary

Biomimicry is a revolutionary new science that analyzes nature's best ideas -- spider silk and prairie grass, seashells and brain cells -- and adapts them for human use. Science writer and lecturer Janine Benyus takes us into the lab and out in the field with the maverick researchers who are applying nature's ingenious solutions to the problem of human survival: stirring vats of proteins to unleash their signaling power in computers; analyzing how spiders manufacture a waterproof fiber five times stronger than steel; studying how electrons in a leaf cell convert sunlight to fuel in trillionths of a second; discovering miracle drugs by observing what animals eat -- and much more. The products of biomimicry are things we can all use -- medicines, "smart" computers, super-strong materials, profitable and earth-friendly business. "Biomimicry" eloquently shows that the answers are all around us.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 ECHOING NATURE WHY BIOMIMICRY NOW?	1	(10)
CHAPTER 2 HOW WILL FEED OURSELVES? FARMING TO FIT THE LAND: GROWING FOOD LIKE A PRAIRIE	11	(48)
CHAPTER 3 HOW WILL WE HARNESS ENERGY? LIGHT INTO LIFE: GATHERING ENERGY LIKE A LEAF	59	(36)
CHAPTER 4 HOW WILL WE MAKE THINGS? FITTING FORM TO FUNCTION: WEAVING FIBERS LIKE A SPIDER	95	(51)
CHAPTER 5 HOW WILL WE HEAL OURSELVES? EXPERTS IN OUR MIDST: FINDING CURES LIKE A CHIMP	146	(39)
CHAPTER 6 HOW WILL WE STORE WHAT WE LEARN? DANCES WITH MOLECULES: COMPUTING LIKE A CELL	185	(53)
CHAPTER 7 HOW WILL WE CONDUCT BUSINESS? CLOSING THE LOOPS IN COMMERCE: RUNNING A BUSINESS LIKE A REDWOOD FOREST	238	(47)
CHAPTER 8 WHERE WILL WE GO FROM HERE? MAY WONDERS NEVER CEASE: TOWARD A BIOMIMETIC FUTURE	285	(14)
BIO-INSPIRED READINGS	299	(2)
INDEX	301