1. 1 Introduction
  2. 2 Carbon
  3. 3 Water
  4. 4 Materials
  5. 5 Energy Conversion & Storage
  6. 6 Optics & Photonics
  7. 7 Thermoregulation
  8. 8 Fluid Dynamics
  9. 9 Data & Computing
  10. 10 Systems
  11. 11 Appendix

Tapping Into Nature

The Future of Energy, Innovation, and Business

By tapping into billions of years of research and development, innovative companies are abstracting strategies from the natural world and developing truly transformative technologies. Organisms have flourished on Earth for nearly 4 billion years, continuously adapting to our planet’s diverse environments and diffuse energy flows. Tapping into Nature explores how pioneering companies are leveraging these adaptations and demonstrates the vast and largely untapped market potential of bioinspired innovation.

In this paper, Terrapin explores nine cross-sector topics and selects natural strategies related to each. The biological strategies represent only a fraction of the designs found in nature. Each section then presents bioinspired products—some of which are Terrapin collaborations—that have been developed by companies using these strategies. All told, this set of strategies and products begins to convey the breadth of innovation in the natural world.

The infographic “Market Readiness of Bioinspired Innovations” showcases over 100 examples of bioinspired technologies, ranging from early concepts to profitable commercial products. The broader economic and environmental potential of this rapidly growing field is detailed in “Bioinspired Innovation: An Economic Engine.” By tracing the path from biology to commercialized technologies, we hope to inspire you to tap into nature at your organization.

“I’m not trying to imitate nature;
I’m trying to find the principles she’s using.”

R. Buckminster Fuller, 1972

(Buckminster Fuller to Children of Earth)

Notes

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or NYSERDA, for sponsoring this document. We owe Miriam Pye and Dana Levy a large debt of gratitude for championing this work. The authors would also like to thank the Review Committee for their valuable contributions and the Affari Project for developing the online version of this document. Additionally, we are grateful to Joe Coussan and Natalie Mault Mead for their editorial assistance. The opinions and conclusions in this report are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NYSERDA, the reviewers, or editors.

Co-Authors

Cas Smith Terrapin Bright Green

Allison Bernett Terrapin Bright Green

Eleanor Sadik-Khan Terrapin Bright Green

Erika Hanson Terrapin Bright Green

Chris Garvin Managing Partner, Terrapin Bright Green

Review Committee

Nathaniel Cady Associate Professor, SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Mark Dorfman Biomimicry 3.8

Jamie Dwyer Biomimicry 3.8

Paolo Gaudiano CEO, Infomous, Inc.

Jay Harman CEO, PAX Scientific

Tim Hoffman Managing Director, Watts Capital/NYSERDA EIR

Mathias Kolle Assistant Professor, MIT

Sandra Meier Senior Project Manager, NYSERDA

Pat Sapinsley CEO, Watt Not LLC/Build Efficiently LLC

Abraham Stroock Associate Professor, Cornell University

Jiandi Wan Assistant Professor, RIT

Contributors

Cathy Gallagher Fermanian Business & Economic Insitute

Dieter Mauerman Fermanian Business & Economic Insitute

Lynn Reaser Fermanian Business & Economic Insitute

William Browning Terrapin Bright Green

Catie Ryan Terrapin Bright Green

Chris Starkey Terrapin Bright Green

Jonce Walker Terrapin Bright Green

Nearly all living things rely on diffuse and transient flows of energy and materials. And yet, life thrives. Organisms are able to procure materials and assemble themselves—essentially constructing “technologies”—using only the resources that are locally available.

Increasingly, innovative companies are looking to the living world for inspiration and direction. Nature provides a rich yet largely unexplored library of technologies that process and manage information, materials, and energy.1 Abstracting ideas from this catalogue opens the way to technological breakthroughs and profitable innovation that are often unattainable using conventional approaches to product design and development.

“Bioinspired innovation,” a term used throughout this paper, encompasses two distinct categories. One of them, bioutilization, is the use of organisms or biological materials to fulfill a human need. The other, biomimicry, is the abstraction and translation of biological principles into human-made technology; it is also a method of assessing whether a design concept is likely to “create conditions conducive to life.”2 The terms are related yet distinct. Either approach can be implemented in a way that benefits society and the environment.

Copyright: Umberto Salvagnin / Flickr

Bee communication within hives inspired Encycle’s Swarm Logic systems that cut the peak energy demand of building heating and cooling systems (see Data & Computing).

Blueprints for Innovation

Life can be thought of as a long-running research and development program that has yielded invaluable design ideas. Long before human beings began tinkering in labs, organisms had developed carbon capture and sequestration systems, water harvesting techniques, water transport systems, adhesives, colorfast materials, electronic circuits, distributed energy conversion systems, color displays, light absorbers, insulation, thermal dissipators, and information storage, along with countless other designs. All of these are blueprints for technologies that are not only useful to society but are also integral to the global economy. Companies that learn from nature are increasing revenues, mitigating risk, reducing costs, and supporting the development of a sustainable society.

To understand how the biological world works—how it builds material, creates form, and constructs intricate systems—is to understand the inherent physical constraints of our planet. Organisms have operated within these rules for nearly 4 billion years, and human technology operates using the same rulebook.3 Through bioinspired innovation, companies can not only discover design ideas in nature but also emulate nature by embedding sustainability into the development of new products and processes. By doing so, businesses can begin to see environmental challenges such as climate change as opportunities rather than economic risks.

Accelerating Innovation

A flurry of innovation occurred in the twentieth century that had a positive, transformative effect on economies and societies.4 Today, however, many companies and private investors develop and invest in “widgets [and] irrelevances” that neither produce healthy returns nor address pressing societal needs.5 To develop the world-changing and profitable innovations of tomorrow, companies and investors need new sources of ideas.

Harvard Business School’s Dr. Rosabeth Moss Kanter recently said that before innovation proves successful, it is merely “somebody’s wild idea that competes with every other wild idea.”6 Indeed, technological innovation is an exercise in risk. Many businesses attempt to innovate by reformulating their existing products or emulating a competitor’s product. However, these avenues often only provide incremental value to both businesses and society, not transformative breakthroughs.

Creating an entirely new product category that alters or creates markets (so-called “disruptive innovation”) requires insightful strategy, serendipity, or both. Bioinspired innovation offers a real opportunity for companies to create products and processes inspired by proven designs: the attributes of organisms that perpetuate in nature because they solve particular challenges.

Companies that leverage bioinspired innovation can increase revenues, reduce costs, and meet global needs. They can also increase their environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) rating, attracting investments from the $45 trillion managed by firms supporting this trend in financial markets.7,8 By looking outside the bounds of their traditional disciplines, companies are able to transform markets and increase returns.

Copyright: USFWS Pacific Region / Flickr

The sequestration of carbon by corals inspired Blue Planet’s cement additives made from waste CO2 streams (see Carbon).

Why Bioinspired Innovation?

At Terrapin, we believe that natural systems offer solutions to industrial challenges. We believe that bioinspired innovation transforms businesses and industries, improves quality of life, and enhances the natural environment. This paper is a product of our experience developing bioinspired technologies and a testament to the potential we see in a bioinspired approach to research and development.

Terrapin works with companies, academic researchers, and governmental organizations to transition biologically-inspired technology into the market. Among our services, we:

  • introduce clients to the bioinspired innovation design process through
    presentations, case studies, and workshops,
  • use workshops to explore and identify our client’s technology challenges,
  • align client challenges to potential solutions found in nature,
  • guide clients from ideation into experimental design,
  • connect clients with our network of researchers to design, build, and
    test potential solutions,
  • develop roadmaps to explore technology challenges and identify hidden
    business opportunities, and
  • offer extended engagements to integrate the bioinspired innovation
    design process into a client’s R&D culture.

Market Readiness of Bioinspired Technologies

The infographic below displays select bioinspired technologies, ranging from early concepts to fully commercialized products. These innovations are sorted according to the paper’s cross-sector topics and connected to the various industries they influence. While many innovations are already commercially available, many more are in development and have the potential to create or disrupt markets. Several of Terrapin’s collaborations are indicated by hexagons.hexagon-02.


Market Readiness of Bioinspired Innovations

Topics

Tap to Open

Carbon

Swipe
Concept
  • Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
    Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
    Dr. Colin Freeman, University of Sheffield

    Some organisms control calcite deposition to build complex structures like eggs–a process that could inspire precise ceramic manufacturing techniques.P1

    Advanced Materials Arts & Entertainment Cement & Concrete
  • Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Dr. Peter Dinolfo

    Terrapin assisted Dr. Dinolfo at RPI in securing funds for research that evaluates the rate and efficacy of an inexpensive catalyst. The catalyst mimics the water-splitting complex in plants and is used in artificial photosynthetic devices, zinc-air batteries, and other oxidation-dependent systems.P2

    Chemical Manufacturing Oil & Gas Optics & Imaging Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Transportation Utilities
  • Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Dr. Jiandi Wan, RIT

    Dr. Wan at RIT is developing a leaf-mimicking microfluidic device to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products like methane and methanol. Terrapin helped secure funding for this project.P3

    Chemical Manufacturing Oil & Gas Optics & Imaging Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Transportation Utilities
  • Photosynthetic Foam
    Photosynthetic Foam
    Dr. David Wendell, University of Cincinnati

    Inspired by the tungara frog, which produces long-lasting foam nests, engineers at the University of Cincinnati developed a stable foam from one of the frog’s proteins and combined it with photosynthetic enzymes that convert CO2 to sugars and oxygen.P4

    Advanced Materials Oil & Gas Power Generation, Distribution & Storage
Prototype
  • Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
    Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
    Dr. Jim Spain, Georgia Tech

    Scientists at Georgia Tech patented the use of biological enzymes that break down harmful carbon compounds into valuable chemicals.P5

    Biotechnology Chemical Manufacturing Waste Management
Development
  • Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Ltd.

    California-based Blue Planet synthesizes cement additives and other green building materials from waste carbon flue streams to make carbon-negative concrete. Terrapin is working with Blue Planet to identify potential demonstration sites in New York State.P6

    Building Construction Cement & Concrete Chemical Manufacturing Mining Paints & Adhesives
  • Mango Materials
    Mango Materials
    Mango Materials

    Using waste methane as a feedstock, Mango Materials grows bacteria that naturally produce a biopolymer. This economically competitive material can be used to create biodegradable plastic as well as conventional products like electronic casings, bottles, and children’s toys.P105

    Advanced Materials Biotechnology Chemical Manufacturing Oil & Gas Plastic Products Waste Management
In Market
  • BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Products

    Headquartered in California, BioWorld sells mixes of specialized bacteria that break down hydrocarbons into less harmful chemicals. These products are authorized by the EPA for use on oil spills.P7

    Biotechnology Oil & Gas Waste Management Water Treatment
  • Converge® Polyols
    Converge® Polyols
    Novomer

    Novomer took inspiration from photosynthetic organisms and developed a process that sequesters carbon by converting waste CO2 and CO into useful chemical polymers.P8 Currently, Ford is developing foams and plastics for its vehicles using the technology.P111

    Chemical Manufacturing Household Goods Oil & Gas Plastic Products

Water

Swipe
Concept
  • Cactus-Inspired Fog Harvesting
    Cactus-Inspired Fog Harvesting
    Dr. Jie Ju & Dr. Hao Bai, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    The spines of the cactus Opuntia microdasys have specialized structures that can collect and funnel fog droplets into its base, prompting interest in fog harvesting devices that mimic the spines’ structures.P96

    Agriculture Water Treatment
Prototype
  • Passive Fluid Transport
    Passive Fluid Transport
    Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

    With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

    Advanced Materials Agriculture Building Systems Food Manufacturing Glass Products HVAC & Refrigeration Utilities
  • Termite Humidity Damping Device
    Termite Humidity Damping Device
    Terrapin Bright Green; Dr. Rupert Soar, Freeform Construction Ltd.; Dr. Scott Turner, SUNY-ESF

    In collaboration with Terrapin Bright Green, Dr. Rupert Soar and Dr. Scott Turner are developing a passive humidity damping device based on the fungal combs in termite mounds. The device will stabilize humidity in building spaces, reducing a building’s energy demands.P97

    Building Systems HVAC & Refrigeration
Development
  • NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc.

    NBD Nano is developing a novel hydrophobic coating inspired by the Namibian Desert Beetle’s shell. This coating for condensing tubes in power plants increases heat transfer rate by 200%, and has applications in other industrial processes, thermal desalination, and fog harvesting. NBD Nano is moving into large scale pilot testing.P40

    Advanced Materials Agriculture HVAC & Refrigeration Industrial Machinery Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Water Treatment
  • Seawater Greenhouse
    Seawater Greenhouse
    Seawater Greenhouses Ltd. and Sundrop Farms Pty. Ltd.

    Inspired by the way the Namib beetle collects water from fog, Seawater Greenhouses use cold seawater, air movement and solar radiation to condense and collect fresh water for crops.P99

    Agriculture Chemical Manufacturing Water Treatment
  • Fog Harvesting Mesh
    Fog Harvesting Mesh
    MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

    Researchers at MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile have designed specialized fog mesh nets that condense and capture 10% of the water in fog, a strategy inspired by how some Chilean organisms collect water from fog.P98

    Agriculture Food Manufacturing Water Treatment
In Market
  • Aquaporin Inside™
    Aquaporin Inside™
    Aquaporin A/S

    Aquaporin A/S is pilot testing a membrane system embedded with biological water channels that can filter water using 80% less energy than conventional processes.P100

    Biotechnology Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Water Treatment
  • Biolytix®
    Biolytix®
    Biolytix

    Biolytix markets a household wastewater treatment system that relies on worms and other organisms to filter water and break down sewage. The system uses no toxic chemicals and 90% less energy than conventional aerated sewage treatment systems.P101

    Waste Management Water Treatment

Materials

Swipe
Concept
  • Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Dr. Chris Nomura, SUNY-ESF

    Dr. Nomura at SUNY-ESF is producing low-embodied energy, keratin‐inspired polymers to be used as crosslinking agents in resins and coatings, replacing petroleum‐derived crosslinkers. Terrapin worked with the research team to find applications for the technology and secure funding.P47

    Chemical Manufacturing Oil & Gas Plastic Products
  • Nacre-Inspired Deformable Glass
    Nacre-Inspired Deformable Glass
    Dr. Francois Barthelat, McGill University

    Inspired by the microscopic structure of nacre and teeth, researchers at McGill University developed deformable glass that is 200 times tougher than standard glass due to a pattern of micro-cracks.P48

    Advanced Materials Glass Products
  • Bacteria-Inspired Adhesive
    Bacteria-Inspired Adhesive
    Dr. Jay Tang, Brown University

    The bacterium Caulobacter crescentus produces a biodegradable, waterproof adhesive with greater strain resistance than commercial super glues. Dr. Jay Tang at Brown University believes that mimicking its chemistry could yield a nontoxic glue that adheres underwater.P44

    Advanced Materials
  • Spider Silk Fibers
    Spider Silk Fibers
    Multiple Researchers

    Spider silk has high tensile strength, extensibility and toughness compared to synthetic fibers like Kevlar and nylon. Researchers are investigating how to produce similar fibers for extremely strong threads, cords, and cables.P45

    Advanced Materials Fibers & Filaments
  • Whale Pacemaker
    Whale Pacemaker
    Jorge Reynolds Pombo

    Contractions in humpback whale hearts are controlled by nano-fibers that conduct electrical signals through an otherwise non-conductive grease coating the heart. Mimicking this concept using carbon nanowires could lead to a new type of pacemaker.P46

    Biotechnology Electronics Fibers & Filaments Healthcare Pharmaceuticals
Prototype
  • BioKnit Shoes
    BioKnit Shoes
    Ammo Liao Design

    Similar to the strategy seen in many organisms where a limited number of substances are specifically used to produce materials with diverse mechanical properties, the shoe’s manufacturing process uses a single material to create a recyclable shoe that features varying levels of softness, strength, and flexibility.P108

    Advanced Materials Fibers & Filaments Textiles & Apparel
  • Biofilm-Based Technology
    Biofilm-Based Technology
    Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

    Advanced Materials Biotechnology Chemical Manufacturing Electronics Optics & Imaging Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Waste Management
  • Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
    Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
    Achim Menges, University of Stuttgart

    Taking inspiration from the material-efficient structures of organisms like sand dollars, architect Achim Menges constructed a bubble-like pavilion using interlocking timber panels.P55

    Arts & Entertainment Building Construction Wood Products
  • Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Dr. Geoff Coates, Cornell University

    At Cornell University, Dr. Geoff Coates is developing an enzyme-like catalyst to synthesize biodegradable polyesters produced using significantly less energy than conventional polyester. Terrapin worked closely with Dr. Coates to develop research proposals and secure funding.P51

    Chemical Manufacturing Oil & Gas Plastic Products
  • Modern Meadow Meat
    Modern Meadow Meat
    Modern Meadow, Inc.

    Modern Meadow is using tissue engineering techniques that prompt animal cells to grow into muscle tissue for meat. This system provides an alternative to environmentally-destructive animal farming.P56

    Agriculture Biotechnology Food Manufacturing
  • Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Dr. Anil Netravali, Cornell University

    With assistance from Terrapin, Cornell researcher Dr. Anil Netravali is developing a superhydrophobic coating for high voltage power lines that reduces ice buildup, electrical outages, and costly infrastructure damage during winter storms.P52

    Advanced Materials Chemical Manufacturing Paints & Adhesives Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Utilities
  • Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
    Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
    Dr. Rich Gross, SyntheZyme

    At RPI, Dr. Rich Gross is synthesizing cost-effective, environmentally-friendly bioadhesives designed by mimicking the chemical and mechanistic features of marine mussels’ byssal threads. Terrapin worked with Dr. Gross to differentiate his technology from competitors and secure funding.P53

    Advanced Materials Paints & Adhesives
  • Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Dr. Chunlei Guo, University of Rochester

    Dr. Chunlei Guo at University of Rochester uses laser processing to produce superwicking materials that enable more efficient air conditioning. Terrapin worked with Dr. Guo to define the market value of his technology and secure funding.P54

    Advanced Materials Building Systems HVAC & Refrigeration Metal Manufacturing Plastic Products
  • Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Dr. Melik Demirel; Penn State

    Inspired by the mechanical properties of squid teeth, engineers created a polymer that can heal itself in the presence of warm water and slight pressure. This product may be applied in medical implants, textiles, cosmetics, and other applications where self-healing polymers are valuable.P109

    Advanced Materials Biotechnology Fibers & Filaments Pharmaceuticals Plastic Products Textiles & Apparel
  • Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

    Researchers at the Karp Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are developing a sandcastle worm-inspired surgical glue that sets while inside organs.P57

    Biotechnology Healthcare Paints & Adhesives Pharmaceuticals
Development
  • Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
    Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
    Ceralink, Inc.

    R&D firm Ceralink uses laminated object manufacturing, a rapid prototyping technique, to replicate bioinspired structures for use in clean energy applications. Terrapin worked with Ceralink to secure early-stage funding.P61

    Advanced Materials Industrial Machinery Power Generation, Distribution & Storage
  • Engineered Silk
    Engineered Silk
    Bolt Threads

    Inspired by spider silk, Bolt Threads spins yeast-produced proteins into silk. These fibers–made from water, sugar, and salts–can provide garments and fabrics with greater durability and strength. The company raised $50 million in its Series C funding round.P103

    Advanced Materials Biotechnology Chemical Manufacturing Fibers & Filaments Textiles & Apparel
  • Modern Meadow Leather
    Modern Meadow Leather
    Modern Meadow, Inc.

    Biotech startup Modern Meadow uses advanced tissue engineering techniques to make lab-grown leather that is analogous to leather produced from animals.P59

    Agriculture Biotechnology Textiles & Apparel
  • SLIPS
    SLIPS
    SLIPS Technologies, Inc.

    Inspired by the slippery surface of the pitcher plant, this microscopic coating has applications in anti-fouling, heat exchange, and rapid defrosting. SLIPS Technologies was launched in 2014 after incubation at Harvard’s Wyss Institute.P60

    Advanced Materials Glass Products Healthcare Paints & Adhesives
  • Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Nature Inspired Industries; Dr. David Kisailus (UC Riverside)

    The developers of this highly impact-resistant composite material—inspired by the hard club of the Mantis shrimp—received an acquisition offer that provided initial seed investors a 10x return in only 18 months.P49

    Advanced Materials Cement & Concrete Fibers & Filaments Paints & Adhesives Plastic Products
In Market
  • Hairprint®
    Hairprint®
    Hairprint; Warner Babcock Institute

    This hair treatment, currently designed for brown or black hair, restores gray hair to its former color. The technology mimics the hair pigmentation process and uses the natural pigment eumelanin that dictates hair color.P102

    Healthcare Household Goods Pharmaceuticals
  • Biocement™ Bricks
    Biocement™ Bricks
    bioMASON

    Combining sand, bacteria, nutrients, a nitrogen source, a calcium source, and water, biotech startup bioMASON “grows” bricks by leveraging the bacteria’s metabolic activities, which cause calcium carbonate to cement the sand together without firing.P58 The company has started licensing their technology so bricks can be manufactured on-demand at a construction site.

    Advanced Materials Biotechnology Building Construction Cement & Concrete
  • Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks

    Ginkgo uses microbes to grow valuable products. The microorganisms are modified by introducing DNA sequences known to produce industry-relevant materials. The company has focused on sectors including “flavors and fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, and food and nutrition” and recently raised $100 million in Series C funding.P110

    Biotechnology Chemical Manufacturing Food Manufacturing Healthcare Household Goods Pharmaceuticals
  • GreenShield®
    GreenShield®
    BigSky Technologies

    This nanoparticle-based textile finish, inspired by plant leaves, allows water droplets to roll off fabric, carrying along dirt and other particles to create a self-cleaning effect.P107

    Advanced Materials Fibers & Filaments Household Goods Textiles & Apparel
  • Mother Dirt™
    Mother Dirt™
    AOBiome

    This body spray contains bacteria that convert urea and ammonia in sweat—which is abrasive to the skin, causing acne and irritation—into nitrite, which has anti-inflammatory properties. The spray reduces a user’s dependence on modern hygiene products and replenishes the skin microbiome.P89

    Biotechnology Healthcare Household Goods Pharmaceuticals
  • Mushroom® Materials
    Mushroom® Materials
    Ecovative

    Ecovative grows mycelium in molds filled with agricultural waste. The fungi bind the waste fibers together into a solid mass, which is heat treated to produce a biodegradable alternative to harmful synthetic packaging and other products.P62

    Advanced Materials Agriculture Biotechnology Building Construction Plastic Products Waste Management
  • Sharklet™
    Sharklet™
    Sharklet Technologies, Inc.

    Sharklet™ surface textures are used on products like medical devices, furniture, and cell phone cases. The plastic coatings have microscopic patterns inspired by sharkskin that repel bacteria without perpetuating antibiotic resistance.P64

    Advanced Materials Healthcare Paints & Adhesives Plastic Products
  • WikiPearls™
    WikiPearls™
    WikiFoods, Inc.

    Inspired by fruit and vegetable peels, WikiPearls™, developed by WikiFoods, Inc., seal food and beverages in bite-sized, edible “wrappers” that obviate plastic packaging.P65

    Advanced Materials Food Manufacturing Waste Management
  • Interface® Carpet
    Interface® Carpet
    Interface, Inc.

    Global carpet manufacturer Interface developed modular carpet tiles with patterns that can be laid down randomly, without glue, mimicking variegated leaves on a forest floor.P66

    Household Goods Textiles & Apparel
  • StoCoat Lotusan®
    StoCoat Lotusan®
    Sto Corp.

    Building products manufacturer Sto Corp. developed a hydrophobic acrylic paint that mimics the self-cleaning properties of the lotus leaf.P67

    Advanced Materials Paints & Adhesives
  • PureBond®
    PureBond®
    Columbia Forest Products

    Developed by Columbia Forest Products, this soy-based glue mimics mussel adhesive. The North American panel manufacturer uses PureBond to laminate plywood without added formaldehyde.P68

    Chemical Manufacturing Paints & Adhesives Wood Products
  • VELCRO® Fasteners
    VELCRO® Fasteners
    Velcro Industries

    This ubiquitous fastener was inspired by the miniature hooks on seed burrs that allow them to cling to looped fabric.P69

    Textiles & Apparel

Energy Conversion & Storage

Swipe
Concept
  • Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Dr. Art Stipanovic, SUNY-ESF

    Terrapin helped secure early funding for research by Dr. Stipanovic at SUNY-ESF. He aims to isolate the digestive enzymes of Red Pandas – which efficiently convert biomass to fermentable sugarsfor use in biofuel production.P27

    Agriculture Biotechnology Oil & Gas Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Waste Management
  • Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Cambrian Innovation

    The prestin protein in animal ears converts vibrations into electrical signals. IntAct Labs, now Cambrian Innovation, embedded prestin proteins into “skins” that generate electricity from movement and wind.P26

    Advanced Materials Building Systems Electronics Power Generation, Distribution & Storage
Prototype
  • bioSTREAM™ Power
    bioSTREAM™ Power
    BioPower Systems

    BioPower Systems in Australia is developing fishtail-inspired modules that generate power from tidal currents. The fin of each module pivots relative to the direction of the current, creating a swimming motion that generates an electric current.P29

    Electronics Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Utilities
  • Electric Eel BattCell
    Electric Eel BattCell
    Advanced Biomimetic Sensors, Inc.

    Advanced Biomimetic Sensors claims that their patented BattCell prototype, inspired by the electric eel, uses a biomimetic membrane to enhance its power density beyond other fuel cell technologies.P28

    Advanced Materials Electronics Power Generation, Distribution & Storage
Development
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Chemical Manufacturing Food Manufacturing HVAC & Refrigeration Oil & Gas Paints & Adhesives Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Transportation Water Treatment
  • BioWAVE™ Power
    BioWAVE™ Power
    BioPower Systems

    bioWAVE™, a wave energy generator developed by BioPower Systems, mimics the motion of ocean vegetation. The swaying motion generates power through a unique hydraulic system undergoing testing in a 250 kW demonstration project.P31

    Industrial Machinery Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Utilities
  • Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Energy

    Ohio-based Pilus Energy, a subsidiary of Tauriga Sciences, is currently pilot testing its microbial fuel cell technology. As modified bacteria break down organics in wastewater, they produce electricity, treated water, and useful chemical compounds.P32

    Biotechnology Chemical Manufacturing Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Water Treatment
In Market
  • Voltaic Pile
    Voltaic Pile
    Alessandro Volta

    Studies of the electric Torpedo ray and frog leg nerve responses led Alessandro Volta to build the first battery, the Voltaic pile, by stacking metal and salt-soaked discs in a similar arrangement to the discs within the fish’s electric organ.P33

    Chemical Manufacturing Electronics Power Generation, Distribution & Storage

Optics & Photonics

Swipe
Concept
  • Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
    Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
    Dr. Yasha Yi-a, City University of New York

    Researchers found that a radial microstructure inspired by moth eyes increases light extraction of X-ray machine scintillators. This finding may enable lower dose radiation for imaging patients.P72

    Advanced Materials Healthcare Optics & Imaging
  • Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Dr. Joanna Aizenberg, Harvard University

    Highly fracture-resistant sea sponge spinacles could inspire tougher optical glass fibers manufactured at room temperature.P70

    Advanced Materials Glass Products Lighting Optics & Imaging Telecommunication
  • Spider Web-Based Optoelectronics
    Spider Web-Based Optoelectronics
    Dr. Jinwei Gao, South China Normal University

    Metallized spider webs perform better than standard optoelectronic arrays and can be stretched without losing performance. This finding by several academic teams paves the way to next-generation flexible touch screens.P71

    Electronics Optics & Imaging
Prototype
  • Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
    Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
    Dr. Seung-Yop Lee and Dr. Jungyul Park, Sogang University

    Scientists at Sogang University have developed a microporous material inspired by the shell of the Hercules beetle that changes color in response to humidity levels. This material could be used in a low-power humidity sensor.P73

    Advanced Materials Electronics Optics & Imaging
  • Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
    Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
    Dr. Roger Hanlon, Marine Biological Laboratory

    Inspired by cephalopods, researchers at the Eugene Bell Center in Massachusetts are creating electronic-sensing and color changing sheets. These optical materials may be used in low-power electronic displays.P74

    Advanced Materials Electronics Optics & Imaging
  • Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
    Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
    Dr. Mathias Kolle, MIT

    After studying the photonic properties of the Margaritaria nobilius seed, researchers at MIT developed fibers that change color when stretched.P75

    Advanced Materials Fibers & Filaments Optics & Imaging
Development
  • Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Dr. Radislav Potyrailo, GE Global Research

    GE Global Research is using Morpho butterfly wing scale microstructures as inspiration for small, highly sensitive infrared sensors.P76

    Advanced Materials Building Systems Data Centers Optics & Imaging
In Market
  • ChromaFlair® Paint
    ChromaFlair® Paint
    JDSU

    JDSU, a manufacturer based in California, makes brilliant, color-shifting paints that use the thin-film interference phenomenon found in butterfly wings and seashells. The company’s ChromaFlair® paint is used on cars, sports equipment, and building interiors.P77

    Advanced Materials Arts & Entertainment Paints & Adhesives
  • Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
    Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
    Dyesol

    Dyesol’s dye-sensitized solar cells, which mimic the electron transport chain in photosynthesis, are printed on thin, flexible plastic using non-toxic, low-energy manufacturing.P78

    Advanced Materials Paints & Adhesives Power Generation, Distribution & Storage
  • IRLens™
    IRLens™
    Schaefer Ventilation

    Schaefer Ventilation’s HotZone® Radiant Heaters rely on a lobster eye-inspired lens that focuses infrared radiation, heating a concentrated area instead of diffusing heat like standard radiant heaters.P79

    Building Systems HVAC & Refrigeration Lighting
  • ORNILUX Glass
    ORNILUX Glass
    Arnold Glas

    After studying how birds in flight avoid spider webs, the European glass manufacturer Arnold Glas commercialized ORNILUX, a spider web-patterned UV reflective glass that reduces bird collisions by 77%.P81

    Building Systems Glass Products
  • Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
    Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
    Multiple Researchers

    Anti-reflective films inspired by the moth eye’s microstructure improve solar panel photo absorption by 5 to 10%.P80

    Advanced Materials Glass Products Power Generation, Distribution & Storage

Thermoregulation

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Concept
  • Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
    Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
    Multiple Researchers

    Studying how tardigrades and other organisms undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, could lead to better preservation of organs for transplant.P90

    Biotechnology Food Manufacturing Healthcare
Prototype
  • Vascular Window Cooling
    Vascular Window Cooling
    Benjamen Hatton, Wyss Institute

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have created windows with microfluidic channels patterned like vascular circulatory systems.P91

    Building Systems Glass Products HVAC & Refrigeration
In Market
  • HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    Nova Laboratories Ltd.

    “Dry” vaccines, created by Nova Laboratories in the U.K., do not require refrigeration. The active materials are encased in a sugar matrix, a technique inspired by organisms that undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation.P93

    Healthcare HVAC & Refrigeration Pharmaceuticals Warehouse & Distribution
  • Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    HARBEC, Inc.

    Plastics manufacturer HARBEC incorporated internal cooling channels in its molds, mimicking the flow patterns in dicot leaves, to dissipate heat more effectively. The new molds reduce cooling time and energy consumption by more than 20%. The increase in production speed has allowed HARBEC to fulfill tighter turn-around times.P92

    Harbec dicot

    Data Centers Electronics Food Manufacturing HVAC & Refrigeration Industrial Machinery Plastic Products
  • SampleMatrix®
    SampleMatrix®
    Biomatrica, Inc.

    The California-based company Biomatrica developed processes akin to anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, to stabilize fragile biological materials like DNA so they can be stored without refrigeration.P94

    Healthcare HVAC & Refrigeration Pharmaceuticals Warehouse & Distribution
  • Arctic Fish-Inspired Ice Cream
    Arctic Fish-Inspired Ice Cream
    Unilever

    Unilever developed a creamier, low-fat ice cream by adding an ice-structuring protein adopted from an arctic fish. The protein prevents large ice crystals from forming.P95

    Food Manufacturing

Fluid Dynamics

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Concept
  • Jellyfish Jet Propulsion
    Jellyfish Jet Propulsion
    Dr. John Dabiri, CalTech

    According to a research team at Caltech, jellyfish-inspired pulsed jet propulsion could be 50% more efficient that existing steady-jet propulsion.P37

    Oil & Gas Transportation
  • Cactus-Inspired High-Rises
    Cactus-Inspired High-Rises
    Dr. Chris Letchford, RPI

    Inspired by the saguaro cactus, Dr. Letchford at RPI is studying the aerodynamics of vertically-grooved, slender cylinders to define optimal geometries for reduced wind loading on tall buildings.P34

    Building Construction
  • Snake-Inspired Flight
    Snake-Inspired Flight
    Dr. Jake Socha, Virginia Tech

    The tree snake Chrysopelea glides from tree to tree by flattening its body and swaying in the air. DARPA funded research on Chrysopelea for possible military applications.P35

    Transportation
  • “V” Formation Flight
    “V” Formation Flight
    Dr. Ilan Kroo, Stanford University

    When moving through fluids, objects in a “V” formation expend less energy than solo objects.P36

    Oil & Gas Transportation
Prototype
  • RoboClam Excavator
    RoboClam Excavator
    Dr. Anette Hosoi, MIT

    A team at MIT constructed a prototype robotic excavator inspired by the low-drag burrowing of Atlantic razor clams. The excavator could be used for reversible ocean anchoring, subsea cable installation, and ocean sensor placement.P38

    Mining Oil & Gas Transportation
Development
  • Schooling Fish Wind Farms
    Schooling Fish Wind Farms
    Dr. John Dabiri, CalTech

    Engineers at Caltech developed algorithms inspired by schooling fish that decrease the amount of space required for vertical axis wind farms without compromising individual turbine efficiency.P39

    Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Utilities
In Market
  • 500-Series Shinkasen Train
    500-Series Shinkasen Train
    Eiji Nakatsu

    The Japanese bullet train has a pointed nose inspired by the kingfisher’s beak that reduces noise and power consumption while increasing speed.P42

    Industrial Machinery Transportation
  • FE2owlet Fan
    FE2owlet Fan
    Ziehl-Abegg

    Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

    Building Systems Data Centers Electronics Food Manufacturing HVAC & Refrigeration Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Utilities
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    Building Systems Chemical Manufacturing Data Centers Electronics Food Manufacturing HVAC & Refrigeration Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Water Treatment
  • Tubercle Technology™
    Tubercle Technology™
    WhalePower

    Inspired by the tubercles found on whale fins, WhalePower developed blades with bumps along the leading edges that allow for very high stall angles. Envira-North Systems in Ontario applied the technology to their high volume, low speed Altra-Air fan.P41

    Building Systems Data Centers HVAC & Refrigeration Power Generation, Distribution & Storage

Data & Computing

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Concept
  • Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
    Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
    Dr. Corey Noone, MIT

    Fibonacci spirals are a naturally-occurring strategy for packing many units together efficiently. Engineers at MIT have modeled a Fibonacci sequence for reflectors in concentrated solar plants, creating an arrangement that would theoretically reduce land use by 20%.P12

    Optics & Imaging Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Utilities
  • Locust Collision Avoidance
    Locust Collision Avoidance
    Volvo Car Group

    Volvo is investigating how to incorporate the unique collision avoidance abilities of swarming locusts into crash avoidance sensors for cars.P13

    Industrial Machinery Software Transportation
  • Bat-Nav System
    Bat-Nav System
    Dr. Arseny Finklestein, Weizmann Institute of Science

    Researchers at the Weizmann Institute in Israel found that bats track their positions in three dimensions using a donut-shaped coordinate system, which could inspire a new navigation system.P9

    Electronics Software Transportation
  • DNA-Based Computing
    DNA-Based Computing
    Multiple Researchers

    DNA-based computers could theoretically use chemical base pairs as “switches.” This would enable a much more space-efficient, non-toxic form of computing that would pack the computing power of the most powerful supercomputer into a drop of water.P10

    Data Centers Electronics Software Telecommunication
  • Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
    Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
    Multiple Researchers

    Trigger hairs inside the leaf of the carnivorous Venus flytrap act like electrical switches; when two are stimulated by an insect, the leaf closes. Such switches could inspire electrical devices made from abundant, non-toxic chemicals.P11

    Advanced Materials Biotechnology Electronics
Prototype
  • Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Dr. Shantanu Chakrabartty, Michigan State University

    Engineers at Michigan State developed a sensor based on a fly’s ear that accurately detects the source of sounds using a mechanical lever system and neuronal signal processing.P16

    Advanced Materials Electronics Industrial Machinery Software Telecommunication
  • Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Multiple Researchers

    Compound insect eyes can detect movement much faster than traditional cameras. This capacity has inspired novel vision sensors for aerial systems, robotics, high-speed inspection in manufacturing, and other applications.P17

    Electronics Optics & Imaging Software Utilities
  • DNA Data Storage
    DNA Data Storage
    Dr. George Church, Harvard University

    Scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute coded 700 terabytes of data into less than one gram of DNA. The scientists believe that with further improvements, all the world’s data (1.8 zettabytes) could theoretically be stored in about 4 grams of DNA.P15

    Advanced Materials Data Centers Electronics Software
  • Autonomous Swarm Robots
    Autonomous Swarm Robots
    Dr. Radhika Nagpal, Harvard University

    Autonomous robot swarms, developed by researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute, organize themselves into complex shapes using swarm intelligence—a method of computation inspired by swarming organisms like ants, bees, birds, and bacteria.P14

    Electronics Industrial Machinery Software
Development
  • Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
    Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
    Nu Tech Software Solutions, Inc.

    Bios Group, now NuTech Solutions, studied ant foraging to develop a logistics algorithm for industrial supplier Air Liquide. Air Liquide uses the algorithm to manage plant scheduling, weather, and deliveries, which has yielded substantial time and cost savings.P20

    Software Transportation Warehouse & Distribution
  • Honey Bee Web Hosting
    Honey Bee Web Hosting
    Dr. Craig Tovey, Georgia Tech

    Researchers at Georgia Tech developed an internet server system that adapts to user demand the way bees adapt to changing food sources: by communicating the new locations back to the hive. The system increased one web hosting company’s revenues by 20%.P18

    Data Centers Software Telecommunication
  • Artificial Immune System Software
    Artificial Immune System Software
    Multiple Researchers

    Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

    Building Systems Data Centers Electronics Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Machinery Software
  • Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
    Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
    NASA

    NASA contractors compared designs for a spacecraft antenna, one of which was developed using an evolutionary algorithm and the other using conventional engineering. The former outperformed the latter in functionality and reduced design time.P22

    Broadcast Electronics Industrial Machinery
  • IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM, Cornell Tech

    Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

    Data Centers Electronics Healthcare Optics & Imaging Software Telecommunication Transportation
In Market
  • OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    Altair

    Inspired by the way bones grow, software developer Altair created structural analysis software that uses an evolutionary algorithm to find the optimum shape for components, reducing weight and materials without compromising strength.P24

    Building Construction Metal Manufacturing Plastic Products Software Transportation
  • Swarm Logic™
    Swarm Logic™
    Encycle

    Inspired by bee communication, Encycle’s Swarm Logic™ systems reduce a building’s energy draw, especially during peak hours, by using individual wireless controllers that coordinate when HVAC units power on.P25

    HVAC & Refrigeration Software Utilities
  • Ant-Based Plane Guidance
    Ant-Based Plane Guidance
    Southwest Airlines

    Southwest Airlines developed an ant-inspired computing algorithm that drastically reduces the amount of time planes wait for gates to open at airports.P23

    Software Transportation Warehouse & Distribution

Systems

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Concept
  • Sahara Forest Project
    Sahara Forest Project
    Exploration Architecture

    The Sahara Forest Project, proposed by British firm Exploration Architecture, combines evaporation from Seawater Greenhouses (see Water) with excess heat from adjacent concentrated solar plants in order to create moist microclimates that curb desertification.P82

    Agriculture Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Waste Management
Prototype
  • Cardboard to Caviar
    Cardboard to Caviar
    Graham Wiles

    This closed-loop recycling scheme uses waste products like cardboard from restaurants to make products like caviar from farmed sturgeon. The concept could be replicated with other interrelated products to reduce waste and save energy and money.P83

    Agriculture Food Manufacturing Waste Management
Development
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Agriculture Building Construction Building Systems Food Manufacturing Healthcare Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Utilities Warehouse & Distribution Water Treatment
  • Biomimetic Investing
    Biomimetic Investing
    Honeybee Capital

    Katherine Collins of Honeybee Capital proposed an investing framework that uses biological principles to encourage resilient, regenerative, and profitable investing activities.P84

    Financial Services
In Market
  • Aquaponic Systems
    Aquaponic Systems
    Multiple Companies

    Hydroponics and fish farming are combined based on the symbiotic flow of nutrients between the fish and plants. Fish waste provides nutrients to the plants, which filter the water for the fish.P86

    Agriculture Waste Management Water Treatment
  • Eco-Machine®
    Eco-Machine®
    John Todd Ecological Design

    John Todd Ecological Design uses constructed wetlands and aquatic tanks containing various microbes, plants, and aquatic animals to filter wastewater.P87

    Agriculture Waste Management Water Treatment
  • Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Symbiosis

    In Kalundborg, Denmark, over 16 industrial facilities and farms in close proximity exchange materials and energy. One plant’s waste becomes another’s raw material, saving about $15 million a year.P88

    Power Generation, Distribution & Storage Utilities Warehouse & Distribution Waste Management Water Treatment

Industries

Tap to Open

Advanced Materials

Swipe
  • Passive Fluid Transport
    Passive Fluid Transport
    Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

    With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

    Prototype
  • NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc.

    NBD Nano is developing a novel hydrophobic coating inspired by the Namibian Desert Beetle’s shell. This coating for condensing tubes in power plants increases heat transfer rate by 200%, and has applications in other industrial processes, thermal desalination, and fog harvesting. NBD Nano is moving into large scale pilot testing.P40

    Development
  • BioKnit Shoes
    BioKnit Shoes
    Ammo Liao Design

    Similar to the strategy seen in many organisms where a limited number of substances are specifically used to produce materials with diverse mechanical properties, the shoe’s manufacturing process uses a single material to create a recyclable shoe that features varying levels of softness, strength, and flexibility.P108

    Prototype
  • ChromaFlair® Paint
    ChromaFlair® Paint
    JDSU

    JDSU, a manufacturer based in California, makes brilliant, color-shifting paints that use the thin-film interference phenomenon found in butterfly wings and seashells. The company’s ChromaFlair® paint is used on cars, sports equipment, and building interiors.P77

    In Market
  • Biocement™ Bricks
    Biocement™ Bricks
    bioMASON

    Combining sand, bacteria, nutrients, a nitrogen source, a calcium source, and water, biotech startup bioMASON “grows” bricks by leveraging the bacteria’s metabolic activities, which cause calcium carbonate to cement the sand together without firing.P58 The company has started licensing their technology so bricks can be manufactured on-demand at a construction site.

    In Market
  • Biofilm-Based Technology
    Biofilm-Based Technology
    Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

    Prototype
  • Mango Materials
    Mango Materials
    Mango Materials

    Using waste methane as a feedstock, Mango Materials grows bacteria that naturally produce a biopolymer. This economically competitive material can be used to create biodegradable plastic as well as conventional products like electronic casings, bottles, and children’s toys.P105

    Development
  • Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
    Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
    Dyesol

    Dyesol’s dye-sensitized solar cells, which mimic the electron transport chain in photosynthesis, are printed on thin, flexible plastic using non-toxic, low-energy manufacturing.P78

    In Market
  • GreenShield®
    GreenShield®
    BigSky Technologies

    This nanoparticle-based textile finish, inspired by plant leaves, allows water droplets to roll off fabric, carrying along dirt and other particles to create a self-cleaning effect.P107

    In Market
  • Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Dr. Anil Netravali, Cornell University

    With assistance from Terrapin, Cornell researcher Dr. Anil Netravali is developing a superhydrophobic coating for high voltage power lines that reduces ice buildup, electrical outages, and costly infrastructure damage during winter storms.P52

    Prototype
  • Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
    Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
    Dr. Rich Gross, SyntheZyme

    At RPI, Dr. Rich Gross is synthesizing cost-effective, environmentally-friendly bioadhesives designed by mimicking the chemical and mechanistic features of marine mussels’ byssal threads. Terrapin worked with Dr. Gross to differentiate his technology from competitors and secure funding.P53

    Prototype
  • Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Dr. Chunlei Guo, University of Rochester

    Dr. Chunlei Guo at University of Rochester uses laser processing to produce superwicking materials that enable more efficient air conditioning. Terrapin worked with Dr. Guo to define the market value of his technology and secure funding.P54

    Prototype
  • Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Dr. Melik Demirel; Penn State

    Inspired by the mechanical properties of squid teeth, engineers created a polymer that can heal itself in the presence of warm water and slight pressure. This product may be applied in medical implants, textiles, cosmetics, and other applications where self-healing polymers are valuable.P109

    Prototype
  • Mushroom® Materials
    Mushroom® Materials
    Ecovative

    Ecovative grows mycelium in molds filled with agricultural waste. The fungi bind the waste fibers together into a solid mass, which is heat treated to produce a biodegradable alternative to harmful synthetic packaging and other products.P62

    In Market
  • Sharklet™
    Sharklet™
    Sharklet Technologies, Inc.

    Sharklet™ surface textures are used on products like medical devices, furniture, and cell phone cases. The plastic coatings have microscopic patterns inspired by sharkskin that repel bacteria without perpetuating antibiotic resistance.P64

    In Market
  • Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Dr. Shantanu Chakrabartty, Michigan State University

    Engineers at Michigan State developed a sensor based on a fly’s ear that accurately detects the source of sounds using a mechanical lever system and neuronal signal processing.P16

    Prototype
  • WikiPearls™
    WikiPearls™
    WikiFoods, Inc.

    Inspired by fruit and vegetable peels, WikiPearls™, developed by WikiFoods, Inc., seal food and beverages in bite-sized, edible “wrappers” that obviate plastic packaging.P65

    In Market
  • DNA Data Storage
    DNA Data Storage
    Dr. George Church, Harvard University

    Scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute coded 700 terabytes of data into less than one gram of DNA. The scientists believe that with further improvements, all the world’s data (1.8 zettabytes) could theoretically be stored in about 4 grams of DNA.P15

    Prototype
  • Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
    Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
    Multiple Researchers

    Anti-reflective films inspired by the moth eye’s microstructure improve solar panel photo absorption by 5 to 10%.P80

    In Market
  • Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Dr. Radislav Potyrailo, GE Global Research

    GE Global Research is using Morpho butterfly wing scale microstructures as inspiration for small, highly sensitive infrared sensors.P76

    Development
  • Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
    Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
    Dr. Seung-Yop Lee and Dr. Jungyul Park, Sogang University

    Scientists at Sogang University have developed a microporous material inspired by the shell of the Hercules beetle that changes color in response to humidity levels. This material could be used in a low-power humidity sensor.P73

    Prototype
  • Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
    Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
    Dr. Roger Hanlon, Marine Biological Laboratory

    Inspired by cephalopods, researchers at the Eugene Bell Center in Massachusetts are creating electronic-sensing and color changing sheets. These optical materials may be used in low-power electronic displays.P74

    Prototype
  • Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
    Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
    Dr. Mathias Kolle, MIT

    After studying the photonic properties of the Margaritaria nobilius seed, researchers at MIT developed fibers that change color when stretched.P75

    Prototype
  • Electric Eel BattCell
    Electric Eel BattCell
    Advanced Biomimetic Sensors, Inc.

    Advanced Biomimetic Sensors claims that their patented BattCell prototype, inspired by the electric eel, uses a biomimetic membrane to enhance its power density beyond other fuel cell technologies.P28

    Prototype
  • StoCoat Lotusan®
    StoCoat Lotusan®
    Sto Corp.

    Building products manufacturer Sto Corp. developed a hydrophobic acrylic paint that mimics the self-cleaning properties of the lotus leaf.P67

    In Market
  • Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
    Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
    Ceralink, Inc.

    R&D firm Ceralink uses laminated object manufacturing, a rapid prototyping technique, to replicate bioinspired structures for use in clean energy applications. Terrapin worked with Ceralink to secure early-stage funding.P61

    Development
  • Engineered Silk
    Engineered Silk
    Bolt Threads

    Inspired by spider silk, Bolt Threads spins yeast-produced proteins into silk. These fibers–made from water, sugar, and salts–can provide garments and fabrics with greater durability and strength. The company raised $50 million in its Series C funding round.P103

    Development
  • SLIPS
    SLIPS
    SLIPS Technologies, Inc.

    Inspired by the slippery surface of the pitcher plant, this microscopic coating has applications in anti-fouling, heat exchange, and rapid defrosting. SLIPS Technologies was launched in 2014 after incubation at Harvard’s Wyss Institute.P60

    Development
  • Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
    Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
    Multiple Researchers

    Trigger hairs inside the leaf of the carnivorous Venus flytrap act like electrical switches; when two are stimulated by an insect, the leaf closes. Such switches could inspire electrical devices made from abundant, non-toxic chemicals.P11

    Concept
  • Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
    Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
    Dr. Yasha Yi-a, City University of New York

    Researchers found that a radial microstructure inspired by moth eyes increases light extraction of X-ray machine scintillators. This finding may enable lower dose radiation for imaging patients.P72

    Concept
  • Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Dr. Joanna Aizenberg, Harvard University

    Highly fracture-resistant sea sponge spinacles could inspire tougher optical glass fibers manufactured at room temperature.P70

    Concept
  • Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Cambrian Innovation

    The prestin protein in animal ears converts vibrations into electrical signals. IntAct Labs, now Cambrian Innovation, embedded prestin proteins into “skins” that generate electricity from movement and wind.P26

    Concept
  • Nacre-Inspired Deformable Glass
    Nacre-Inspired Deformable Glass
    Dr. Francois Barthelat, McGill University

    Inspired by the microscopic structure of nacre and teeth, researchers at McGill University developed deformable glass that is 200 times tougher than standard glass due to a pattern of micro-cracks.P48

    Concept
  • Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Nature Inspired Industries; Dr. David Kisailus (UC Riverside)

    The developers of this highly impact-resistant composite material—inspired by the hard club of the Mantis shrimp—received an acquisition offer that provided initial seed investors a 10x return in only 18 months.P49

    Development
  • Bacteria-Inspired Adhesive
    Bacteria-Inspired Adhesive
    Dr. Jay Tang, Brown University

    The bacterium Caulobacter crescentus produces a biodegradable, waterproof adhesive with greater strain resistance than commercial super glues. Dr. Jay Tang at Brown University believes that mimicking its chemistry could yield a nontoxic glue that adheres underwater.P44

    Concept
  • Spider Silk Fibers
    Spider Silk Fibers
    Multiple Researchers

    Spider silk has high tensile strength, extensibility and toughness compared to synthetic fibers like Kevlar and nylon. Researchers are investigating how to produce similar fibers for extremely strong threads, cords, and cables.P45

    Concept
  • Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
    Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
    Dr. Colin Freeman, University of Sheffield

    Some organisms control calcite deposition to build complex structures like eggs–a process that could inspire precise ceramic manufacturing techniques.P1

    Concept
  • Photosynthetic Foam
    Photosynthetic Foam
    Dr. David Wendell, University of Cincinnati

    Inspired by the tungara frog, which produces long-lasting foam nests, engineers at the University of Cincinnati developed a stable foam from one of the frog’s proteins and combined it with photosynthetic enzymes that convert CO2 to sugars and oxygen.P4

    Concept

Agriculture

Swipe
  • Passive Fluid Transport
    Passive Fluid Transport
    Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

    With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

    Prototype
  • NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc.

    NBD Nano is developing a novel hydrophobic coating inspired by the Namibian Desert Beetle’s shell. This coating for condensing tubes in power plants increases heat transfer rate by 200%, and has applications in other industrial processes, thermal desalination, and fog harvesting. NBD Nano is moving into large scale pilot testing.P40

    Development
  • Aquaponic Systems
    Aquaponic Systems
    Multiple Companies

    Hydroponics and fish farming are combined based on the symbiotic flow of nutrients between the fish and plants. Fish waste provides nutrients to the plants, which filter the water for the fish.P86

    In Market
  • Eco-Machine®
    Eco-Machine®
    John Todd Ecological Design

    John Todd Ecological Design uses constructed wetlands and aquatic tanks containing various microbes, plants, and aquatic animals to filter wastewater.P87

    In Market
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • Modern Meadow Meat
    Modern Meadow Meat
    Modern Meadow, Inc.

    Modern Meadow is using tissue engineering techniques that prompt animal cells to grow into muscle tissue for meat. This system provides an alternative to environmentally-destructive animal farming.P56

    Prototype
  • Cardboard to Caviar
    Cardboard to Caviar
    Graham Wiles

    This closed-loop recycling scheme uses waste products like cardboard from restaurants to make products like caviar from farmed sturgeon. The concept could be replicated with other interrelated products to reduce waste and save energy and money.P83

    Prototype
  • Mushroom® Materials
    Mushroom® Materials
    Ecovative

    Ecovative grows mycelium in molds filled with agricultural waste. The fungi bind the waste fibers together into a solid mass, which is heat treated to produce a biodegradable alternative to harmful synthetic packaging and other products.P62

    In Market
  • Modern Meadow Leather
    Modern Meadow Leather
    Modern Meadow, Inc.

    Biotech startup Modern Meadow uses advanced tissue engineering techniques to make lab-grown leather that is analogous to leather produced from animals.P59

    Development
  • Seawater Greenhouse
    Seawater Greenhouse
    Seawater Greenhouses Ltd. and Sundrop Farms Pty. Ltd.

    Inspired by the way the Namib beetle collects water from fog, Seawater Greenhouses use cold seawater, air movement and solar radiation to condense and collect fresh water for crops.P99

    Development
  • Fog Harvesting Mesh
    Fog Harvesting Mesh
    MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

    Researchers at MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile have designed specialized fog mesh nets that condense and capture 10% of the water in fog, a strategy inspired by how some Chilean organisms collect water from fog.P98

    Development
  • Sahara Forest Project
    Sahara Forest Project
    Exploration Architecture

    The Sahara Forest Project, proposed by British firm Exploration Architecture, combines evaporation from Seawater Greenhouses (see Water) with excess heat from adjacent concentrated solar plants in order to create moist microclimates that curb desertification.P82

    Concept
  • Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Dr. Art Stipanovic, SUNY-ESF

    Terrapin helped secure early funding for research by Dr. Stipanovic at SUNY-ESF. He aims to isolate the digestive enzymes of Red Pandas – which efficiently convert biomass to fermentable sugarsfor use in biofuel production.P27

    Concept
  • Cactus-Inspired Fog Harvesting
    Cactus-Inspired Fog Harvesting
    Dr. Jie Ju & Dr. Hao Bai, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    The spines of the cactus Opuntia microdasys have specialized structures that can collect and funnel fog droplets into its base, prompting interest in fog harvesting devices that mimic the spines’ structures.P96

    Concept

Arts & Entertainment

Swipe
  • ChromaFlair® Paint
    ChromaFlair® Paint
    JDSU

    JDSU, a manufacturer based in California, makes brilliant, color-shifting paints that use the thin-film interference phenomenon found in butterfly wings and seashells. The company’s ChromaFlair® paint is used on cars, sports equipment, and building interiors.P77

    In Market
  • Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
    Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
    Achim Menges, University of Stuttgart

    Taking inspiration from the material-efficient structures of organisms like sand dollars, architect Achim Menges constructed a bubble-like pavilion using interlocking timber panels.P55

    Prototype
  • Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
    Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
    Dr. Colin Freeman, University of Sheffield

    Some organisms control calcite deposition to build complex structures like eggs–a process that could inspire precise ceramic manufacturing techniques.P1

    Concept

Biotechnology

Swipe
  • Biocement™ Bricks
    Biocement™ Bricks
    bioMASON

    Combining sand, bacteria, nutrients, a nitrogen source, a calcium source, and water, biotech startup bioMASON “grows” bricks by leveraging the bacteria’s metabolic activities, which cause calcium carbonate to cement the sand together without firing.P58 The company has started licensing their technology so bricks can be manufactured on-demand at a construction site.

    In Market
  • Biofilm-Based Technology
    Biofilm-Based Technology
    Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

    Prototype
  • Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks

    Ginkgo uses microbes to grow valuable products. The microorganisms are modified by introducing DNA sequences known to produce industry-relevant materials. The company has focused on sectors including “flavors and fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, and food and nutrition” and recently raised $100 million in Series C funding.P110

    In Market
  • Mango Materials
    Mango Materials
    Mango Materials

    Using waste methane as a feedstock, Mango Materials grows bacteria that naturally produce a biopolymer. This economically competitive material can be used to create biodegradable plastic as well as conventional products like electronic casings, bottles, and children’s toys.P105

    Development
  • Modern Meadow Meat
    Modern Meadow Meat
    Modern Meadow, Inc.

    Modern Meadow is using tissue engineering techniques that prompt animal cells to grow into muscle tissue for meat. This system provides an alternative to environmentally-destructive animal farming.P56

    Prototype
  • Mother Dirt™
    Mother Dirt™
    AOBiome

    This body spray contains bacteria that convert urea and ammonia in sweat—which is abrasive to the skin, causing acne and irritation—into nitrite, which has anti-inflammatory properties. The spray reduces a user’s dependence on modern hygiene products and replenishes the skin microbiome.P89

    In Market
  • Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Dr. Melik Demirel; Penn State

    Inspired by the mechanical properties of squid teeth, engineers created a polymer that can heal itself in the presence of warm water and slight pressure. This product may be applied in medical implants, textiles, cosmetics, and other applications where self-healing polymers are valuable.P109

    Prototype
  • Mushroom® Materials
    Mushroom® Materials
    Ecovative

    Ecovative grows mycelium in molds filled with agricultural waste. The fungi bind the waste fibers together into a solid mass, which is heat treated to produce a biodegradable alternative to harmful synthetic packaging and other products.P62

    In Market
  • Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

    Researchers at the Karp Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are developing a sandcastle worm-inspired surgical glue that sets while inside organs.P57

    Prototype
  • Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Energy

    Ohio-based Pilus Energy, a subsidiary of Tauriga Sciences, is currently pilot testing its microbial fuel cell technology. As modified bacteria break down organics in wastewater, they produce electricity, treated water, and useful chemical compounds.P32

    Development
  • Engineered Silk
    Engineered Silk
    Bolt Threads

    Inspired by spider silk, Bolt Threads spins yeast-produced proteins into silk. These fibers–made from water, sugar, and salts–can provide garments and fabrics with greater durability and strength. The company raised $50 million in its Series C funding round.P103

    Development
  • Modern Meadow Leather
    Modern Meadow Leather
    Modern Meadow, Inc.

    Biotech startup Modern Meadow uses advanced tissue engineering techniques to make lab-grown leather that is analogous to leather produced from animals.P59

    Development
  • Aquaporin Inside™
    Aquaporin Inside™
    Aquaporin A/S

    Aquaporin A/S is pilot testing a membrane system embedded with biological water channels that can filter water using 80% less energy than conventional processes.P100

    In Market
  • BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Products

    Headquartered in California, BioWorld sells mixes of specialized bacteria that break down hydrocarbons into less harmful chemicals. These products are authorized by the EPA for use on oil spills.P7

    In Market
  • Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
    Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
    Multiple Researchers

    Trigger hairs inside the leaf of the carnivorous Venus flytrap act like electrical switches; when two are stimulated by an insect, the leaf closes. Such switches could inspire electrical devices made from abundant, non-toxic chemicals.P11

    Concept
  • Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
    Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
    Multiple Researchers

    Studying how tardigrades and other organisms undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, could lead to better preservation of organs for transplant.P90

    Concept
  • Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Dr. Art Stipanovic, SUNY-ESF

    Terrapin helped secure early funding for research by Dr. Stipanovic at SUNY-ESF. He aims to isolate the digestive enzymes of Red Pandas – which efficiently convert biomass to fermentable sugarsfor use in biofuel production.P27

    Concept
  • Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
    Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
    Dr. Jim Spain, Georgia Tech

    Scientists at Georgia Tech patented the use of biological enzymes that break down harmful carbon compounds into valuable chemicals.P5

    Prototype
  • Whale Pacemaker
    Whale Pacemaker
    Jorge Reynolds Pombo

    Contractions in humpback whale hearts are controlled by nano-fibers that conduct electrical signals through an otherwise non-conductive grease coating the heart. Mimicking this concept using carbon nanowires could lead to a new type of pacemaker.P46

    Concept

Broadcast

Swipe
  • Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
    Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
    NASA

    NASA contractors compared designs for a spacecraft antenna, one of which was developed using an evolutionary algorithm and the other using conventional engineering. The former outperformed the latter in functionality and reduced design time.P22

    Development

Building Construction

Swipe
  • Biocement™ Bricks
    Biocement™ Bricks
    bioMASON

    Combining sand, bacteria, nutrients, a nitrogen source, a calcium source, and water, biotech startup bioMASON “grows” bricks by leveraging the bacteria’s metabolic activities, which cause calcium carbonate to cement the sand together without firing.P58 The company has started licensing their technology so bricks can be manufactured on-demand at a construction site.

    In Market
  • Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Ltd.

    California-based Blue Planet synthesizes cement additives and other green building materials from waste carbon flue streams to make carbon-negative concrete. Terrapin is working with Blue Planet to identify potential demonstration sites in New York State.P6

    Development
  • OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    Altair

    Inspired by the way bones grow, software developer Altair created structural analysis software that uses an evolutionary algorithm to find the optimum shape for components, reducing weight and materials without compromising strength.P24

    In Market
  • Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
    Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
    Achim Menges, University of Stuttgart

    Taking inspiration from the material-efficient structures of organisms like sand dollars, architect Achim Menges constructed a bubble-like pavilion using interlocking timber panels.P55

    Prototype
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • Mushroom® Materials
    Mushroom® Materials
    Ecovative

    Ecovative grows mycelium in molds filled with agricultural waste. The fungi bind the waste fibers together into a solid mass, which is heat treated to produce a biodegradable alternative to harmful synthetic packaging and other products.P62

    In Market
  • Cactus-Inspired High-Rises
    Cactus-Inspired High-Rises
    Dr. Chris Letchford, RPI

    Inspired by the saguaro cactus, Dr. Letchford at RPI is studying the aerodynamics of vertically-grooved, slender cylinders to define optimal geometries for reduced wind loading on tall buildings.P34

    Concept

Building Systems

Swipe
  • Passive Fluid Transport
    Passive Fluid Transport
    Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

    With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

    Prototype
  • FE2owlet Fan
    FE2owlet Fan
    Ziehl-Abegg

    Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

    In Market
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    In Market
  • IRLens™
    IRLens™
    Schaefer Ventilation

    Schaefer Ventilation’s HotZone® Radiant Heaters rely on a lobster eye-inspired lens that focuses infrared radiation, heating a concentrated area instead of diffusing heat like standard radiant heaters.P79

    In Market
  • ORNILUX Glass
    ORNILUX Glass
    Arnold Glas

    After studying how birds in flight avoid spider webs, the European glass manufacturer Arnold Glas commercialized ORNILUX, a spider web-patterned UV reflective glass that reduces bird collisions by 77%.P81

    In Market
  • Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Dr. Chunlei Guo, University of Rochester

    Dr. Chunlei Guo at University of Rochester uses laser processing to produce superwicking materials that enable more efficient air conditioning. Terrapin worked with Dr. Guo to define the market value of his technology and secure funding.P54

    Prototype
  • Artificial Immune System Software
    Artificial Immune System Software
    Multiple Researchers

    Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

    Development
  • Tubercle Technology™
    Tubercle Technology™
    WhalePower

    Inspired by the tubercles found on whale fins, WhalePower developed blades with bumps along the leading edges that allow for very high stall angles. Envira-North Systems in Ontario applied the technology to their high volume, low speed Altra-Air fan.P41

    In Market
  • Vascular Window Cooling
    Vascular Window Cooling
    Benjamen Hatton, Wyss Institute

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have created windows with microfluidic channels patterned like vascular circulatory systems.P91

    Prototype
  • Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Dr. Radislav Potyrailo, GE Global Research

    GE Global Research is using Morpho butterfly wing scale microstructures as inspiration for small, highly sensitive infrared sensors.P76

    Development
  • Termite Humidity Damping Device
    Termite Humidity Damping Device
    Terrapin Bright Green; Dr. Rupert Soar, Freeform Construction Ltd.; Dr. Scott Turner, SUNY-ESF

    In collaboration with Terrapin Bright Green, Dr. Rupert Soar and Dr. Scott Turner are developing a passive humidity damping device based on the fungal combs in termite mounds. The device will stabilize humidity in building spaces, reducing a building’s energy demands.P97

    Prototype
  • Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Cambrian Innovation

    The prestin protein in animal ears converts vibrations into electrical signals. IntAct Labs, now Cambrian Innovation, embedded prestin proteins into “skins” that generate electricity from movement and wind.P26

    Concept

Cement & Concrete

Swipe
  • Biocement™ Bricks
    Biocement™ Bricks
    bioMASON

    Combining sand, bacteria, nutrients, a nitrogen source, a calcium source, and water, biotech startup bioMASON “grows” bricks by leveraging the bacteria’s metabolic activities, which cause calcium carbonate to cement the sand together without firing.P58 The company has started licensing their technology so bricks can be manufactured on-demand at a construction site.

    In Market
  • Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Ltd.

    California-based Blue Planet synthesizes cement additives and other green building materials from waste carbon flue streams to make carbon-negative concrete. Terrapin is working with Blue Planet to identify potential demonstration sites in New York State.P6

    Development
  • Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Nature Inspired Industries; Dr. David Kisailus (UC Riverside)

    The developers of this highly impact-resistant composite material—inspired by the hard club of the Mantis shrimp—received an acquisition offer that provided initial seed investors a 10x return in only 18 months.P49

    Development
  • Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
    Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
    Dr. Colin Freeman, University of Sheffield

    Some organisms control calcite deposition to build complex structures like eggs–a process that could inspire precise ceramic manufacturing techniques.P1

    Concept

Chemical Manufacturing

Swipe
  • Biofilm-Based Technology
    Biofilm-Based Technology
    Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

    Prototype
  • Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Ltd.

    California-based Blue Planet synthesizes cement additives and other green building materials from waste carbon flue streams to make carbon-negative concrete. Terrapin is working with Blue Planet to identify potential demonstration sites in New York State.P6

    Development
  • Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks

    Ginkgo uses microbes to grow valuable products. The microorganisms are modified by introducing DNA sequences known to produce industry-relevant materials. The company has focused on sectors including “flavors and fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, and food and nutrition” and recently raised $100 million in Series C funding.P110

    In Market
  • Mango Materials
    Mango Materials
    Mango Materials

    Using waste methane as a feedstock, Mango Materials grows bacteria that naturally produce a biopolymer. This economically competitive material can be used to create biodegradable plastic as well as conventional products like electronic casings, bottles, and children’s toys.P105

    Development
  • Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Dr. Geoff Coates, Cornell University

    At Cornell University, Dr. Geoff Coates is developing an enzyme-like catalyst to synthesize biodegradable polyesters produced using significantly less energy than conventional polyester. Terrapin worked closely with Dr. Coates to develop research proposals and secure funding.P51

    Prototype
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    In Market
  • Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Dr. Anil Netravali, Cornell University

    With assistance from Terrapin, Cornell researcher Dr. Anil Netravali is developing a superhydrophobic coating for high voltage power lines that reduces ice buildup, electrical outages, and costly infrastructure damage during winter storms.P52

    Prototype
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Development
  • Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Energy

    Ohio-based Pilus Energy, a subsidiary of Tauriga Sciences, is currently pilot testing its microbial fuel cell technology. As modified bacteria break down organics in wastewater, they produce electricity, treated water, and useful chemical compounds.P32

    Development
  • PureBond®
    PureBond®
    Columbia Forest Products

    Developed by Columbia Forest Products, this soy-based glue mimics mussel adhesive. The North American panel manufacturer uses PureBond to laminate plywood without added formaldehyde.P68

    In Market
  • Voltaic Pile
    Voltaic Pile
    Alessandro Volta

    Studies of the electric Torpedo ray and frog leg nerve responses led Alessandro Volta to build the first battery, the Voltaic pile, by stacking metal and salt-soaked discs in a similar arrangement to the discs within the fish’s electric organ.P33

    In Market
  • Engineered Silk
    Engineered Silk
    Bolt Threads

    Inspired by spider silk, Bolt Threads spins yeast-produced proteins into silk. These fibers–made from water, sugar, and salts–can provide garments and fabrics with greater durability and strength. The company raised $50 million in its Series C funding round.P103

    Development
  • Seawater Greenhouse
    Seawater Greenhouse
    Seawater Greenhouses Ltd. and Sundrop Farms Pty. Ltd.

    Inspired by the way the Namib beetle collects water from fog, Seawater Greenhouses use cold seawater, air movement and solar radiation to condense and collect fresh water for crops.P99

    Development
  • Converge® Polyols
    Converge® Polyols
    Novomer

    Novomer took inspiration from photosynthetic organisms and developed a process that sequesters carbon by converting waste CO2 and CO into useful chemical polymers.P8 Currently, Ford is developing foams and plastics for its vehicles using the technology.P111

    In Market
  • Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
    Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
    Dr. Jim Spain, Georgia Tech

    Scientists at Georgia Tech patented the use of biological enzymes that break down harmful carbon compounds into valuable chemicals.P5

    Prototype
  • Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Dr. Chris Nomura, SUNY-ESF

    Dr. Nomura at SUNY-ESF is producing low-embodied energy, keratin‐inspired polymers to be used as crosslinking agents in resins and coatings, replacing petroleum‐derived crosslinkers. Terrapin worked with the research team to find applications for the technology and secure funding.P47

    Concept
  • Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Dr. Peter Dinolfo

    Terrapin assisted Dr. Dinolfo at RPI in securing funds for research that evaluates the rate and efficacy of an inexpensive catalyst. The catalyst mimics the water-splitting complex in plants and is used in artificial photosynthetic devices, zinc-air batteries, and other oxidation-dependent systems.P2

    Concept
  • Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Dr. Jiandi Wan, RIT

    Dr. Wan at RIT is developing a leaf-mimicking microfluidic device to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products like methane and methanol. Terrapin helped secure funding for this project.P3

    Concept

Data Centers

Swipe
  • FE2owlet Fan
    FE2owlet Fan
    Ziehl-Abegg

    Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

    In Market
  • Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    HARBEC, Inc.

    Plastics manufacturer HARBEC incorporated internal cooling channels in its molds, mimicking the flow patterns in dicot leaves, to dissipate heat more effectively. The new molds reduce cooling time and energy consumption by more than 20%. The increase in production speed has allowed HARBEC to fulfill tighter turn-around times.P92

    Harbec dicot

    In Market
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    In Market
  • Honey Bee Web Hosting
    Honey Bee Web Hosting
    Dr. Craig Tovey, Georgia Tech

    Researchers at Georgia Tech developed an internet server system that adapts to user demand the way bees adapt to changing food sources: by communicating the new locations back to the hive. The system increased one web hosting company’s revenues by 20%.P18

    Development
  • Artificial Immune System Software
    Artificial Immune System Software
    Multiple Researchers

    Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

    Development
  • IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM, Cornell Tech

    Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

    Development
  • DNA Data Storage
    DNA Data Storage
    Dr. George Church, Harvard University

    Scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute coded 700 terabytes of data into less than one gram of DNA. The scientists believe that with further improvements, all the world’s data (1.8 zettabytes) could theoretically be stored in about 4 grams of DNA.P15

    Prototype
  • Tubercle Technology™
    Tubercle Technology™
    WhalePower

    Inspired by the tubercles found on whale fins, WhalePower developed blades with bumps along the leading edges that allow for very high stall angles. Envira-North Systems in Ontario applied the technology to their high volume, low speed Altra-Air fan.P41

    In Market
  • Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Dr. Radislav Potyrailo, GE Global Research

    GE Global Research is using Morpho butterfly wing scale microstructures as inspiration for small, highly sensitive infrared sensors.P76

    Development
  • DNA-Based Computing
    DNA-Based Computing
    Multiple Researchers

    DNA-based computers could theoretically use chemical base pairs as “switches.” This would enable a much more space-efficient, non-toxic form of computing that would pack the computing power of the most powerful supercomputer into a drop of water.P10

    Concept

Electronics

Swipe
  • Biofilm-Based Technology
    Biofilm-Based Technology
    Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

    Prototype
  • FE2owlet Fan
    FE2owlet Fan
    Ziehl-Abegg

    Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

    In Market
  • Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    HARBEC, Inc.

    Plastics manufacturer HARBEC incorporated internal cooling channels in its molds, mimicking the flow patterns in dicot leaves, to dissipate heat more effectively. The new molds reduce cooling time and energy consumption by more than 20%. The increase in production speed has allowed HARBEC to fulfill tighter turn-around times.P92

    Harbec dicot

    In Market
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    In Market
  • Artificial Immune System Software
    Artificial Immune System Software
    Multiple Researchers

    Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

    Development
  • Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
    Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
    NASA

    NASA contractors compared designs for a spacecraft antenna, one of which was developed using an evolutionary algorithm and the other using conventional engineering. The former outperformed the latter in functionality and reduced design time.P22

    Development
  • IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM, Cornell Tech

    Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

    Development
  • Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Dr. Shantanu Chakrabartty, Michigan State University

    Engineers at Michigan State developed a sensor based on a fly’s ear that accurately detects the source of sounds using a mechanical lever system and neuronal signal processing.P16

    Prototype
  • Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Multiple Researchers

    Compound insect eyes can detect movement much faster than traditional cameras. This capacity has inspired novel vision sensors for aerial systems, robotics, high-speed inspection in manufacturing, and other applications.P17

    Prototype
  • DNA Data Storage
    DNA Data Storage
    Dr. George Church, Harvard University

    Scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute coded 700 terabytes of data into less than one gram of DNA. The scientists believe that with further improvements, all the world’s data (1.8 zettabytes) could theoretically be stored in about 4 grams of DNA.P15

    Prototype
  • Autonomous Swarm Robots
    Autonomous Swarm Robots
    Dr. Radhika Nagpal, Harvard University

    Autonomous robot swarms, developed by researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute, organize themselves into complex shapes using swarm intelligence—a method of computation inspired by swarming organisms like ants, bees, birds, and bacteria.P14

    Prototype
  • Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
    Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
    Dr. Seung-Yop Lee and Dr. Jungyul Park, Sogang University

    Scientists at Sogang University have developed a microporous material inspired by the shell of the Hercules beetle that changes color in response to humidity levels. This material could be used in a low-power humidity sensor.P73

    Prototype
  • Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
    Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
    Dr. Roger Hanlon, Marine Biological Laboratory

    Inspired by cephalopods, researchers at the Eugene Bell Center in Massachusetts are creating electronic-sensing and color changing sheets. These optical materials may be used in low-power electronic displays.P74

    Prototype
  • bioSTREAM™ Power
    bioSTREAM™ Power
    BioPower Systems

    BioPower Systems in Australia is developing fishtail-inspired modules that generate power from tidal currents. The fin of each module pivots relative to the direction of the current, creating a swimming motion that generates an electric current.P29

    Prototype
  • Electric Eel BattCell
    Electric Eel BattCell
    Advanced Biomimetic Sensors, Inc.

    Advanced Biomimetic Sensors claims that their patented BattCell prototype, inspired by the electric eel, uses a biomimetic membrane to enhance its power density beyond other fuel cell technologies.P28

    Prototype
  • Voltaic Pile
    Voltaic Pile
    Alessandro Volta

    Studies of the electric Torpedo ray and frog leg nerve responses led Alessandro Volta to build the first battery, the Voltaic pile, by stacking metal and salt-soaked discs in a similar arrangement to the discs within the fish’s electric organ.P33

    In Market
  • Bat-Nav System
    Bat-Nav System
    Dr. Arseny Finklestein, Weizmann Institute of Science

    Researchers at the Weizmann Institute in Israel found that bats track their positions in three dimensions using a donut-shaped coordinate system, which could inspire a new navigation system.P9

    Concept
  • DNA-Based Computing
    DNA-Based Computing
    Multiple Researchers

    DNA-based computers could theoretically use chemical base pairs as “switches.” This would enable a much more space-efficient, non-toxic form of computing that would pack the computing power of the most powerful supercomputer into a drop of water.P10

    Concept
  • Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
    Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
    Multiple Researchers

    Trigger hairs inside the leaf of the carnivorous Venus flytrap act like electrical switches; when two are stimulated by an insect, the leaf closes. Such switches could inspire electrical devices made from abundant, non-toxic chemicals.P11

    Concept
  • Spider Web-Based Optoelectronics
    Spider Web-Based Optoelectronics
    Dr. Jinwei Gao, South China Normal University

    Metallized spider webs perform better than standard optoelectronic arrays and can be stretched without losing performance. This finding by several academic teams paves the way to next-generation flexible touch screens.P71

    Concept
  • Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Cambrian Innovation

    The prestin protein in animal ears converts vibrations into electrical signals. IntAct Labs, now Cambrian Innovation, embedded prestin proteins into “skins” that generate electricity from movement and wind.P26

    Concept
  • Whale Pacemaker
    Whale Pacemaker
    Jorge Reynolds Pombo

    Contractions in humpback whale hearts are controlled by nano-fibers that conduct electrical signals through an otherwise non-conductive grease coating the heart. Mimicking this concept using carbon nanowires could lead to a new type of pacemaker.P46

    Concept

Fibers & Filaments

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  • BioKnit Shoes
    BioKnit Shoes
    Ammo Liao Design

    Similar to the strategy seen in many organisms where a limited number of substances are specifically used to produce materials with diverse mechanical properties, the shoe’s manufacturing process uses a single material to create a recyclable shoe that features varying levels of softness, strength, and flexibility.P108

    Prototype
  • GreenShield®
    GreenShield®
    BigSky Technologies

    This nanoparticle-based textile finish, inspired by plant leaves, allows water droplets to roll off fabric, carrying along dirt and other particles to create a self-cleaning effect.P107

    In Market
  • Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Dr. Melik Demirel; Penn State

    Inspired by the mechanical properties of squid teeth, engineers created a polymer that can heal itself in the presence of warm water and slight pressure. This product may be applied in medical implants, textiles, cosmetics, and other applications where self-healing polymers are valuable.P109

    Prototype
  • Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
    Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
    Dr. Mathias Kolle, MIT

    After studying the photonic properties of the Margaritaria nobilius seed, researchers at MIT developed fibers that change color when stretched.P75

    Prototype
  • Engineered Silk
    Engineered Silk
    Bolt Threads

    Inspired by spider silk, Bolt Threads spins yeast-produced proteins into silk. These fibers–made from water, sugar, and salts–can provide garments and fabrics with greater durability and strength. The company raised $50 million in its Series C funding round.P103

    Development
  • Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Nature Inspired Industries; Dr. David Kisailus (UC Riverside)

    The developers of this highly impact-resistant composite material—inspired by the hard club of the Mantis shrimp—received an acquisition offer that provided initial seed investors a 10x return in only 18 months.P49

    Development
  • Spider Silk Fibers
    Spider Silk Fibers
    Multiple Researchers

    Spider silk has high tensile strength, extensibility and toughness compared to synthetic fibers like Kevlar and nylon. Researchers are investigating how to produce similar fibers for extremely strong threads, cords, and cables.P45

    Concept
  • Whale Pacemaker
    Whale Pacemaker
    Jorge Reynolds Pombo

    Contractions in humpback whale hearts are controlled by nano-fibers that conduct electrical signals through an otherwise non-conductive grease coating the heart. Mimicking this concept using carbon nanowires could lead to a new type of pacemaker.P46

    Concept

Financial Services

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  • Biomimetic Investing
    Biomimetic Investing
    Honeybee Capital

    Katherine Collins of Honeybee Capital proposed an investing framework that uses biological principles to encourage resilient, regenerative, and profitable investing activities.P84

    Development
  • Artificial Immune System Software
    Artificial Immune System Software
    Multiple Researchers

    Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

    Development

Food Manufacturing

Swipe
  • Passive Fluid Transport
    Passive Fluid Transport
    Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

    With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

    Prototype
  • Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks

    Ginkgo uses microbes to grow valuable products. The microorganisms are modified by introducing DNA sequences known to produce industry-relevant materials. The company has focused on sectors including “flavors and fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, and food and nutrition” and recently raised $100 million in Series C funding.P110

    In Market
  • FE2owlet Fan
    FE2owlet Fan
    Ziehl-Abegg

    Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

    In Market
  • Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    HARBEC, Inc.

    Plastics manufacturer HARBEC incorporated internal cooling channels in its molds, mimicking the flow patterns in dicot leaves, to dissipate heat more effectively. The new molds reduce cooling time and energy consumption by more than 20%. The increase in production speed has allowed HARBEC to fulfill tighter turn-around times.P92

    Harbec dicot

    In Market
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    In Market
  • Modern Meadow Meat
    Modern Meadow Meat
    Modern Meadow, Inc.

    Modern Meadow is using tissue engineering techniques that prompt animal cells to grow into muscle tissue for meat. This system provides an alternative to environmentally-destructive animal farming.P56

    Prototype
  • Cardboard to Caviar
    Cardboard to Caviar
    Graham Wiles

    This closed-loop recycling scheme uses waste products like cardboard from restaurants to make products like caviar from farmed sturgeon. The concept could be replicated with other interrelated products to reduce waste and save energy and money.P83

    Prototype
  • WikiPearls™
    WikiPearls™
    WikiFoods, Inc.

    Inspired by fruit and vegetable peels, WikiPearls™, developed by WikiFoods, Inc., seal food and beverages in bite-sized, edible “wrappers” that obviate plastic packaging.P65

    In Market
  • Arctic Fish-Inspired Ice Cream
    Arctic Fish-Inspired Ice Cream
    Unilever

    Unilever developed a creamier, low-fat ice cream by adding an ice-structuring protein adopted from an arctic fish. The protein prevents large ice crystals from forming.P95

    In Market
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Development
  • Fog Harvesting Mesh
    Fog Harvesting Mesh
    MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

    Researchers at MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile have designed specialized fog mesh nets that condense and capture 10% of the water in fog, a strategy inspired by how some Chilean organisms collect water from fog.P98

    Development
  • Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
    Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
    Multiple Researchers

    Studying how tardigrades and other organisms undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, could lead to better preservation of organs for transplant.P90

    Concept

Glass Products

Swipe
  • Passive Fluid Transport
    Passive Fluid Transport
    Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

    With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

    Prototype
  • ORNILUX Glass
    ORNILUX Glass
    Arnold Glas

    After studying how birds in flight avoid spider webs, the European glass manufacturer Arnold Glas commercialized ORNILUX, a spider web-patterned UV reflective glass that reduces bird collisions by 77%.P81

    In Market
  • Vascular Window Cooling
    Vascular Window Cooling
    Benjamen Hatton, Wyss Institute

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have created windows with microfluidic channels patterned like vascular circulatory systems.P91

    Prototype
  • Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
    Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
    Multiple Researchers

    Anti-reflective films inspired by the moth eye’s microstructure improve solar panel photo absorption by 5 to 10%.P80

    In Market
  • SLIPS
    SLIPS
    SLIPS Technologies, Inc.

    Inspired by the slippery surface of the pitcher plant, this microscopic coating has applications in anti-fouling, heat exchange, and rapid defrosting. SLIPS Technologies was launched in 2014 after incubation at Harvard’s Wyss Institute.P60

    Development
  • Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Dr. Joanna Aizenberg, Harvard University

    Highly fracture-resistant sea sponge spinacles could inspire tougher optical glass fibers manufactured at room temperature.P70

    Concept
  • Nacre-Inspired Deformable Glass
    Nacre-Inspired Deformable Glass
    Dr. Francois Barthelat, McGill University

    Inspired by the microscopic structure of nacre and teeth, researchers at McGill University developed deformable glass that is 200 times tougher than standard glass due to a pattern of micro-cracks.P48

    Concept

Healthcare

Swipe
  • Hairprint®
    Hairprint®
    Hairprint; Warner Babcock Institute

    This hair treatment, currently designed for brown or black hair, restores gray hair to its former color. The technology mimics the hair pigmentation process and uses the natural pigment eumelanin that dictates hair color.P102

    In Market
  • HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    Nova Laboratories Ltd.

    “Dry” vaccines, created by Nova Laboratories in the U.K., do not require refrigeration. The active materials are encased in a sugar matrix, a technique inspired by organisms that undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation.P93

    In Market
  • Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks

    Ginkgo uses microbes to grow valuable products. The microorganisms are modified by introducing DNA sequences known to produce industry-relevant materials. The company has focused on sectors including “flavors and fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, and food and nutrition” and recently raised $100 million in Series C funding.P110

    In Market
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • SampleMatrix®
    SampleMatrix®
    Biomatrica, Inc.

    The California-based company Biomatrica developed processes akin to anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, to stabilize fragile biological materials like DNA so they can be stored without refrigeration.P94

    In Market
  • Mother Dirt™
    Mother Dirt™
    AOBiome

    This body spray contains bacteria that convert urea and ammonia in sweat—which is abrasive to the skin, causing acne and irritation—into nitrite, which has anti-inflammatory properties. The spray reduces a user’s dependence on modern hygiene products and replenishes the skin microbiome.P89

    In Market
  • Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

    Researchers at the Karp Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are developing a sandcastle worm-inspired surgical glue that sets while inside organs.P57

    Prototype
  • Artificial Immune System Software
    Artificial Immune System Software
    Multiple Researchers

    Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

    Development
  • Sharklet™
    Sharklet™
    Sharklet Technologies, Inc.

    Sharklet™ surface textures are used on products like medical devices, furniture, and cell phone cases. The plastic coatings have microscopic patterns inspired by sharkskin that repel bacteria without perpetuating antibiotic resistance.P64

    In Market
  • IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM, Cornell Tech

    Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

    Development
  • SLIPS
    SLIPS
    SLIPS Technologies, Inc.

    Inspired by the slippery surface of the pitcher plant, this microscopic coating has applications in anti-fouling, heat exchange, and rapid defrosting. SLIPS Technologies was launched in 2014 after incubation at Harvard’s Wyss Institute.P60

    Development
  • Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
    Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
    Multiple Researchers

    Studying how tardigrades and other organisms undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, could lead to better preservation of organs for transplant.P90

    Concept
  • Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
    Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
    Dr. Yasha Yi-a, City University of New York

    Researchers found that a radial microstructure inspired by moth eyes increases light extraction of X-ray machine scintillators. This finding may enable lower dose radiation for imaging patients.P72

    Concept
  • Whale Pacemaker
    Whale Pacemaker
    Jorge Reynolds Pombo

    Contractions in humpback whale hearts are controlled by nano-fibers that conduct electrical signals through an otherwise non-conductive grease coating the heart. Mimicking this concept using carbon nanowires could lead to a new type of pacemaker.P46

    Concept

Household Goods

Swipe
  • Hairprint®
    Hairprint®
    Hairprint; Warner Babcock Institute

    This hair treatment, currently designed for brown or black hair, restores gray hair to its former color. The technology mimics the hair pigmentation process and uses the natural pigment eumelanin that dictates hair color.P102

    In Market
  • Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks

    Ginkgo uses microbes to grow valuable products. The microorganisms are modified by introducing DNA sequences known to produce industry-relevant materials. The company has focused on sectors including “flavors and fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, and food and nutrition” and recently raised $100 million in Series C funding.P110

    In Market
  • GreenShield®
    GreenShield®
    BigSky Technologies

    This nanoparticle-based textile finish, inspired by plant leaves, allows water droplets to roll off fabric, carrying along dirt and other particles to create a self-cleaning effect.P107

    In Market
  • Mother Dirt™
    Mother Dirt™
    AOBiome

    This body spray contains bacteria that convert urea and ammonia in sweat—which is abrasive to the skin, causing acne and irritation—into nitrite, which has anti-inflammatory properties. The spray reduces a user’s dependence on modern hygiene products and replenishes the skin microbiome.P89

    In Market
  • Interface® Carpet
    Interface® Carpet
    Interface, Inc.

    Global carpet manufacturer Interface developed modular carpet tiles with patterns that can be laid down randomly, without glue, mimicking variegated leaves on a forest floor.P66

    In Market
  • Converge® Polyols
    Converge® Polyols
    Novomer

    Novomer took inspiration from photosynthetic organisms and developed a process that sequesters carbon by converting waste CO2 and CO into useful chemical polymers.P8 Currently, Ford is developing foams and plastics for its vehicles using the technology.P111

    In Market

HVAC & Refrigeration

Swipe
  • Passive Fluid Transport
    Passive Fluid Transport
    Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

    With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

    Prototype
  • NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc.

    NBD Nano is developing a novel hydrophobic coating inspired by the Namibian Desert Beetle’s shell. This coating for condensing tubes in power plants increases heat transfer rate by 200%, and has applications in other industrial processes, thermal desalination, and fog harvesting. NBD Nano is moving into large scale pilot testing.P40

    Development
  • HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    Nova Laboratories Ltd.

    “Dry” vaccines, created by Nova Laboratories in the U.K., do not require refrigeration. The active materials are encased in a sugar matrix, a technique inspired by organisms that undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation.P93

    In Market
  • FE2owlet Fan
    FE2owlet Fan
    Ziehl-Abegg

    Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

    In Market
  • Swarm Logic™
    Swarm Logic™
    Encycle

    Inspired by bee communication, Encycle’s Swarm Logic™ systems reduce a building’s energy draw, especially during peak hours, by using individual wireless controllers that coordinate when HVAC units power on.P25

    In Market
  • Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    HARBEC, Inc.

    Plastics manufacturer HARBEC incorporated internal cooling channels in its molds, mimicking the flow patterns in dicot leaves, to dissipate heat more effectively. The new molds reduce cooling time and energy consumption by more than 20%. The increase in production speed has allowed HARBEC to fulfill tighter turn-around times.P92

    Harbec dicot

    In Market
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    In Market
  • SampleMatrix®
    SampleMatrix®
    Biomatrica, Inc.

    The California-based company Biomatrica developed processes akin to anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, to stabilize fragile biological materials like DNA so they can be stored without refrigeration.P94

    In Market
  • IRLens™
    IRLens™
    Schaefer Ventilation

    Schaefer Ventilation’s HotZone® Radiant Heaters rely on a lobster eye-inspired lens that focuses infrared radiation, heating a concentrated area instead of diffusing heat like standard radiant heaters.P79

    In Market
  • Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Dr. Chunlei Guo, University of Rochester

    Dr. Chunlei Guo at University of Rochester uses laser processing to produce superwicking materials that enable more efficient air conditioning. Terrapin worked with Dr. Guo to define the market value of his technology and secure funding.P54

    Prototype
  • Tubercle Technology™
    Tubercle Technology™
    WhalePower

    Inspired by the tubercles found on whale fins, WhalePower developed blades with bumps along the leading edges that allow for very high stall angles. Envira-North Systems in Ontario applied the technology to their high volume, low speed Altra-Air fan.P41

    In Market
  • Vascular Window Cooling
    Vascular Window Cooling
    Benjamen Hatton, Wyss Institute

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have created windows with microfluidic channels patterned like vascular circulatory systems.P91

    Prototype
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Development
  • Termite Humidity Damping Device
    Termite Humidity Damping Device
    Terrapin Bright Green; Dr. Rupert Soar, Freeform Construction Ltd.; Dr. Scott Turner, SUNY-ESF

    In collaboration with Terrapin Bright Green, Dr. Rupert Soar and Dr. Scott Turner are developing a passive humidity damping device based on the fungal combs in termite mounds. The device will stabilize humidity in building spaces, reducing a building’s energy demands.P97

    Prototype

Industrial Machinery

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  • NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc.

    NBD Nano is developing a novel hydrophobic coating inspired by the Namibian Desert Beetle’s shell. This coating for condensing tubes in power plants increases heat transfer rate by 200%, and has applications in other industrial processes, thermal desalination, and fog harvesting. NBD Nano is moving into large scale pilot testing.P40

    Development
  • 500-Series Shinkasen Train
    500-Series Shinkasen Train
    Eiji Nakatsu

    The Japanese bullet train has a pointed nose inspired by the kingfisher’s beak that reduces noise and power consumption while increasing speed.P42

    In Market
  • Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    HARBEC, Inc.

    Plastics manufacturer HARBEC incorporated internal cooling channels in its molds, mimicking the flow patterns in dicot leaves, to dissipate heat more effectively. The new molds reduce cooling time and energy consumption by more than 20%. The increase in production speed has allowed HARBEC to fulfill tighter turn-around times.P92

    Harbec dicot

    In Market
  • Artificial Immune System Software
    Artificial Immune System Software
    Multiple Researchers

    Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

    Development
  • Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
    Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
    NASA

    NASA contractors compared designs for a spacecraft antenna, one of which was developed using an evolutionary algorithm and the other using conventional engineering. The former outperformed the latter in functionality and reduced design time.P22

    Development
  • Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Dr. Shantanu Chakrabartty, Michigan State University

    Engineers at Michigan State developed a sensor based on a fly’s ear that accurately detects the source of sounds using a mechanical lever system and neuronal signal processing.P16

    Prototype
  • Autonomous Swarm Robots
    Autonomous Swarm Robots
    Dr. Radhika Nagpal, Harvard University

    Autonomous robot swarms, developed by researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute, organize themselves into complex shapes using swarm intelligence—a method of computation inspired by swarming organisms like ants, bees, birds, and bacteria.P14

    Prototype
  • BioWAVE™ Power
    BioWAVE™ Power
    BioPower Systems

    bioWAVE™, a wave energy generator developed by BioPower Systems, mimics the motion of ocean vegetation. The swaying motion generates power through a unique hydraulic system undergoing testing in a 250 kW demonstration project.P31

    Development
  • Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
    Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
    Ceralink, Inc.

    R&D firm Ceralink uses laminated object manufacturing, a rapid prototyping technique, to replicate bioinspired structures for use in clean energy applications. Terrapin worked with Ceralink to secure early-stage funding.P61

    Development
  • Locust Collision Avoidance
    Locust Collision Avoidance
    Volvo Car Group

    Volvo is investigating how to incorporate the unique collision avoidance abilities of swarming locusts into crash avoidance sensors for cars.P13

    Concept

Lighting

Swipe
  • IRLens™
    IRLens™
    Schaefer Ventilation

    Schaefer Ventilation’s HotZone® Radiant Heaters rely on a lobster eye-inspired lens that focuses infrared radiation, heating a concentrated area instead of diffusing heat like standard radiant heaters.P79

    In Market
  • Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Dr. Joanna Aizenberg, Harvard University

    Highly fracture-resistant sea sponge spinacles could inspire tougher optical glass fibers manufactured at room temperature.P70

    Concept

Metal Manufacturing

Swipe
  • OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    Altair

    Inspired by the way bones grow, software developer Altair created structural analysis software that uses an evolutionary algorithm to find the optimum shape for components, reducing weight and materials without compromising strength.P24

    In Market
  • Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Dr. Chunlei Guo, University of Rochester

    Dr. Chunlei Guo at University of Rochester uses laser processing to produce superwicking materials that enable more efficient air conditioning. Terrapin worked with Dr. Guo to define the market value of his technology and secure funding.P54

    Prototype

Mining

Swipe
  • Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Ltd.

    California-based Blue Planet synthesizes cement additives and other green building materials from waste carbon flue streams to make carbon-negative concrete. Terrapin is working with Blue Planet to identify potential demonstration sites in New York State.P6

    Development
  • RoboClam Excavator
    RoboClam Excavator
    Dr. Anette Hosoi, MIT

    A team at MIT constructed a prototype robotic excavator inspired by the low-drag burrowing of Atlantic razor clams. The excavator could be used for reversible ocean anchoring, subsea cable installation, and ocean sensor placement.P38

    Prototype

Oil & Gas

Swipe
  • Mango Materials
    Mango Materials
    Mango Materials

    Using waste methane as a feedstock, Mango Materials grows bacteria that naturally produce a biopolymer. This economically competitive material can be used to create biodegradable plastic as well as conventional products like electronic casings, bottles, and children’s toys.P105

    Development
  • Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Dr. Geoff Coates, Cornell University

    At Cornell University, Dr. Geoff Coates is developing an enzyme-like catalyst to synthesize biodegradable polyesters produced using significantly less energy than conventional polyester. Terrapin worked closely with Dr. Coates to develop research proposals and secure funding.P51

    Prototype
  • RoboClam Excavator
    RoboClam Excavator
    Dr. Anette Hosoi, MIT

    A team at MIT constructed a prototype robotic excavator inspired by the low-drag burrowing of Atlantic razor clams. The excavator could be used for reversible ocean anchoring, subsea cable installation, and ocean sensor placement.P38

    Prototype
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Development
  • BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Products

    Headquartered in California, BioWorld sells mixes of specialized bacteria that break down hydrocarbons into less harmful chemicals. These products are authorized by the EPA for use on oil spills.P7

    In Market
  • Converge® Polyols
    Converge® Polyols
    Novomer

    Novomer took inspiration from photosynthetic organisms and developed a process that sequesters carbon by converting waste CO2 and CO into useful chemical polymers.P8 Currently, Ford is developing foams and plastics for its vehicles using the technology.P111

    In Market
  • Jellyfish Jet Propulsion
    Jellyfish Jet Propulsion
    Dr. John Dabiri, CalTech

    According to a research team at Caltech, jellyfish-inspired pulsed jet propulsion could be 50% more efficient that existing steady-jet propulsion.P37

    Concept
  • “V” Formation Flight
    “V” Formation Flight
    Dr. Ilan Kroo, Stanford University

    When moving through fluids, objects in a “V” formation expend less energy than solo objects.P36

    Concept
  • Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Dr. Art Stipanovic, SUNY-ESF

    Terrapin helped secure early funding for research by Dr. Stipanovic at SUNY-ESF. He aims to isolate the digestive enzymes of Red Pandas – which efficiently convert biomass to fermentable sugarsfor use in biofuel production.P27

    Concept
  • Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Dr. Chris Nomura, SUNY-ESF

    Dr. Nomura at SUNY-ESF is producing low-embodied energy, keratin‐inspired polymers to be used as crosslinking agents in resins and coatings, replacing petroleum‐derived crosslinkers. Terrapin worked with the research team to find applications for the technology and secure funding.P47

    Concept
  • Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Dr. Peter Dinolfo

    Terrapin assisted Dr. Dinolfo at RPI in securing funds for research that evaluates the rate and efficacy of an inexpensive catalyst. The catalyst mimics the water-splitting complex in plants and is used in artificial photosynthetic devices, zinc-air batteries, and other oxidation-dependent systems.P2

    Concept
  • Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Dr. Jiandi Wan, RIT

    Dr. Wan at RIT is developing a leaf-mimicking microfluidic device to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products like methane and methanol. Terrapin helped secure funding for this project.P3

    Concept
  • Photosynthetic Foam
    Photosynthetic Foam
    Dr. David Wendell, University of Cincinnati

    Inspired by the tungara frog, which produces long-lasting foam nests, engineers at the University of Cincinnati developed a stable foam from one of the frog’s proteins and combined it with photosynthetic enzymes that convert CO2 to sugars and oxygen.P4

    Concept

Optics & Imaging

Swipe
  • Biofilm-Based Technology
    Biofilm-Based Technology
    Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

    Prototype
  • IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM, Cornell Tech

    Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

    Development
  • Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Multiple Researchers

    Compound insect eyes can detect movement much faster than traditional cameras. This capacity has inspired novel vision sensors for aerial systems, robotics, high-speed inspection in manufacturing, and other applications.P17

    Prototype
  • Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
    Dr. Radislav Potyrailo, GE Global Research

    GE Global Research is using Morpho butterfly wing scale microstructures as inspiration for small, highly sensitive infrared sensors.P76

    Development
  • Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
    Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
    Dr. Seung-Yop Lee and Dr. Jungyul Park, Sogang University

    Scientists at Sogang University have developed a microporous material inspired by the shell of the Hercules beetle that changes color in response to humidity levels. This material could be used in a low-power humidity sensor.P73

    Prototype
  • Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
    Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
    Dr. Roger Hanlon, Marine Biological Laboratory

    Inspired by cephalopods, researchers at the Eugene Bell Center in Massachusetts are creating electronic-sensing and color changing sheets. These optical materials may be used in low-power electronic displays.P74

    Prototype
  • Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
    Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
    Dr. Mathias Kolle, MIT

    After studying the photonic properties of the Margaritaria nobilius seed, researchers at MIT developed fibers that change color when stretched.P75

    Prototype
  • Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
    Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
    Dr. Corey Noone, MIT

    Fibonacci spirals are a naturally-occurring strategy for packing many units together efficiently. Engineers at MIT have modeled a Fibonacci sequence for reflectors in concentrated solar plants, creating an arrangement that would theoretically reduce land use by 20%.P12

    Concept
  • Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
    Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
    Dr. Yasha Yi-a, City University of New York

    Researchers found that a radial microstructure inspired by moth eyes increases light extraction of X-ray machine scintillators. This finding may enable lower dose radiation for imaging patients.P72

    Concept
  • Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Dr. Joanna Aizenberg, Harvard University

    Highly fracture-resistant sea sponge spinacles could inspire tougher optical glass fibers manufactured at room temperature.P70

    Concept
  • Spider Web-Based Optoelectronics
    Spider Web-Based Optoelectronics
    Dr. Jinwei Gao, South China Normal University

    Metallized spider webs perform better than standard optoelectronic arrays and can be stretched without losing performance. This finding by several academic teams paves the way to next-generation flexible touch screens.P71

    Concept
  • Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Dr. Peter Dinolfo

    Terrapin assisted Dr. Dinolfo at RPI in securing funds for research that evaluates the rate and efficacy of an inexpensive catalyst. The catalyst mimics the water-splitting complex in plants and is used in artificial photosynthetic devices, zinc-air batteries, and other oxidation-dependent systems.P2

    Concept
  • Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Dr. Jiandi Wan, RIT

    Dr. Wan at RIT is developing a leaf-mimicking microfluidic device to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products like methane and methanol. Terrapin helped secure funding for this project.P3

    Concept

Paints & Adhesives

Swipe
  • ChromaFlair® Paint
    ChromaFlair® Paint
    JDSU

    JDSU, a manufacturer based in California, makes brilliant, color-shifting paints that use the thin-film interference phenomenon found in butterfly wings and seashells. The company’s ChromaFlair® paint is used on cars, sports equipment, and building interiors.P77

    In Market
  • Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Green Building Materials
    Blue Planet Ltd.

    California-based Blue Planet synthesizes cement additives and other green building materials from waste carbon flue streams to make carbon-negative concrete. Terrapin is working with Blue Planet to identify potential demonstration sites in New York State.P6

    Development
  • Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
    Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
    Dyesol

    Dyesol’s dye-sensitized solar cells, which mimic the electron transport chain in photosynthesis, are printed on thin, flexible plastic using non-toxic, low-energy manufacturing.P78

    In Market
  • Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Dr. Anil Netravali, Cornell University

    With assistance from Terrapin, Cornell researcher Dr. Anil Netravali is developing a superhydrophobic coating for high voltage power lines that reduces ice buildup, electrical outages, and costly infrastructure damage during winter storms.P52

    Prototype
  • Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
    Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
    Dr. Rich Gross, SyntheZyme

    At RPI, Dr. Rich Gross is synthesizing cost-effective, environmentally-friendly bioadhesives designed by mimicking the chemical and mechanistic features of marine mussels’ byssal threads. Terrapin worked with Dr. Gross to differentiate his technology from competitors and secure funding.P53

    Prototype
  • Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

    Researchers at the Karp Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are developing a sandcastle worm-inspired surgical glue that sets while inside organs.P57

    Prototype
  • Sharklet™
    Sharklet™
    Sharklet Technologies, Inc.

    Sharklet™ surface textures are used on products like medical devices, furniture, and cell phone cases. The plastic coatings have microscopic patterns inspired by sharkskin that repel bacteria without perpetuating antibiotic resistance.P64

    In Market
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Development
  • StoCoat Lotusan®
    StoCoat Lotusan®
    Sto Corp.

    Building products manufacturer Sto Corp. developed a hydrophobic acrylic paint that mimics the self-cleaning properties of the lotus leaf.P67

    In Market
  • PureBond®
    PureBond®
    Columbia Forest Products

    Developed by Columbia Forest Products, this soy-based glue mimics mussel adhesive. The North American panel manufacturer uses PureBond to laminate plywood without added formaldehyde.P68

    In Market
  • SLIPS
    SLIPS
    SLIPS Technologies, Inc.

    Inspired by the slippery surface of the pitcher plant, this microscopic coating has applications in anti-fouling, heat exchange, and rapid defrosting. SLIPS Technologies was launched in 2014 after incubation at Harvard’s Wyss Institute.P60

    Development
  • Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Nature Inspired Industries; Dr. David Kisailus (UC Riverside)

    The developers of this highly impact-resistant composite material—inspired by the hard club of the Mantis shrimp—received an acquisition offer that provided initial seed investors a 10x return in only 18 months.P49

    Development

Pharmaceuticals

Swipe
  • Hairprint®
    Hairprint®
    Hairprint; Warner Babcock Institute

    This hair treatment, currently designed for brown or black hair, restores gray hair to its former color. The technology mimics the hair pigmentation process and uses the natural pigment eumelanin that dictates hair color.P102

    In Market
  • HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    Nova Laboratories Ltd.

    “Dry” vaccines, created by Nova Laboratories in the U.K., do not require refrigeration. The active materials are encased in a sugar matrix, a technique inspired by organisms that undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation.P93

    In Market
  • Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks
    Ginkgo Bioworks

    Ginkgo uses microbes to grow valuable products. The microorganisms are modified by introducing DNA sequences known to produce industry-relevant materials. The company has focused on sectors including “flavors and fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, and food and nutrition” and recently raised $100 million in Series C funding.P110

    In Market
  • SampleMatrix®
    SampleMatrix®
    Biomatrica, Inc.

    The California-based company Biomatrica developed processes akin to anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, to stabilize fragile biological materials like DNA so they can be stored without refrigeration.P94

    In Market
  • Mother Dirt™
    Mother Dirt™
    AOBiome

    This body spray contains bacteria that convert urea and ammonia in sweat—which is abrasive to the skin, causing acne and irritation—into nitrite, which has anti-inflammatory properties. The spray reduces a user’s dependence on modern hygiene products and replenishes the skin microbiome.P89

    In Market
  • Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Dr. Melik Demirel; Penn State

    Inspired by the mechanical properties of squid teeth, engineers created a polymer that can heal itself in the presence of warm water and slight pressure. This product may be applied in medical implants, textiles, cosmetics, and other applications where self-healing polymers are valuable.P109

    Prototype
  • Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
    Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

    Researchers at the Karp Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are developing a sandcastle worm-inspired surgical glue that sets while inside organs.P57

    Prototype
  • Whale Pacemaker
    Whale Pacemaker
    Jorge Reynolds Pombo

    Contractions in humpback whale hearts are controlled by nano-fibers that conduct electrical signals through an otherwise non-conductive grease coating the heart. Mimicking this concept using carbon nanowires could lead to a new type of pacemaker.P46

    Concept

Plastic Products

Swipe
  • OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    Altair

    Inspired by the way bones grow, software developer Altair created structural analysis software that uses an evolutionary algorithm to find the optimum shape for components, reducing weight and materials without compromising strength.P24

    In Market
  • Mango Materials
    Mango Materials
    Mango Materials

    Using waste methane as a feedstock, Mango Materials grows bacteria that naturally produce a biopolymer. This economically competitive material can be used to create biodegradable plastic as well as conventional products like electronic casings, bottles, and children’s toys.P105

    Development
  • Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
    HARBEC, Inc.

    Plastics manufacturer HARBEC incorporated internal cooling channels in its molds, mimicking the flow patterns in dicot leaves, to dissipate heat more effectively. The new molds reduce cooling time and energy consumption by more than 20%. The increase in production speed has allowed HARBEC to fulfill tighter turn-around times.P92

    Harbec dicot

    In Market
  • Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Dr. Geoff Coates, Cornell University

    At Cornell University, Dr. Geoff Coates is developing an enzyme-like catalyst to synthesize biodegradable polyesters produced using significantly less energy than conventional polyester. Terrapin worked closely with Dr. Coates to develop research proposals and secure funding.P51

    Prototype
  • Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
    Dr. Chunlei Guo, University of Rochester

    Dr. Chunlei Guo at University of Rochester uses laser processing to produce superwicking materials that enable more efficient air conditioning. Terrapin worked with Dr. Guo to define the market value of his technology and secure funding.P54

    Prototype
  • Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Dr. Melik Demirel; Penn State

    Inspired by the mechanical properties of squid teeth, engineers created a polymer that can heal itself in the presence of warm water and slight pressure. This product may be applied in medical implants, textiles, cosmetics, and other applications where self-healing polymers are valuable.P109

    Prototype
  • Mushroom® Materials
    Mushroom® Materials
    Ecovative

    Ecovative grows mycelium in molds filled with agricultural waste. The fungi bind the waste fibers together into a solid mass, which is heat treated to produce a biodegradable alternative to harmful synthetic packaging and other products.P62

    In Market
  • Sharklet™
    Sharklet™
    Sharklet Technologies, Inc.

    Sharklet™ surface textures are used on products like medical devices, furniture, and cell phone cases. The plastic coatings have microscopic patterns inspired by sharkskin that repel bacteria without perpetuating antibiotic resistance.P64

    In Market
  • Converge® Polyols
    Converge® Polyols
    Novomer

    Novomer took inspiration from photosynthetic organisms and developed a process that sequesters carbon by converting waste CO2 and CO into useful chemical polymers.P8 Currently, Ford is developing foams and plastics for its vehicles using the technology.P111

    In Market
  • Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
    Dr. Chris Nomura, SUNY-ESF

    Dr. Nomura at SUNY-ESF is producing low-embodied energy, keratin‐inspired polymers to be used as crosslinking agents in resins and coatings, replacing petroleum‐derived crosslinkers. Terrapin worked with the research team to find applications for the technology and secure funding.P47

    Concept
  • Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
    Nature Inspired Industries; Dr. David Kisailus (UC Riverside)

    The developers of this highly impact-resistant composite material—inspired by the hard club of the Mantis shrimp—received an acquisition offer that provided initial seed investors a 10x return in only 18 months.P49

    Development

Power Generation, Distribution & Storage

Swipe
  • NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc.

    NBD Nano is developing a novel hydrophobic coating inspired by the Namibian Desert Beetle’s shell. This coating for condensing tubes in power plants increases heat transfer rate by 200%, and has applications in other industrial processes, thermal desalination, and fog harvesting. NBD Nano is moving into large scale pilot testing.P40

    Development
  • Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Symbiosis

    In Kalundborg, Denmark, over 16 industrial facilities and farms in close proximity exchange materials and energy. One plant’s waste becomes another’s raw material, saving about $15 million a year.P88

    In Market
  • Biofilm-Based Technology
    Biofilm-Based Technology
    Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

    Prototype
  • FE2owlet Fan
    FE2owlet Fan
    Ziehl-Abegg

    Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

    In Market
  • Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
    Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
    Dyesol

    Dyesol’s dye-sensitized solar cells, which mimic the electron transport chain in photosynthesis, are printed on thin, flexible plastic using non-toxic, low-energy manufacturing.P78

    In Market
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    In Market
  • Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Dr. Anil Netravali, Cornell University

    With assistance from Terrapin, Cornell researcher Dr. Anil Netravali is developing a superhydrophobic coating for high voltage power lines that reduces ice buildup, electrical outages, and costly infrastructure damage during winter storms.P52

    Prototype
  • Tubercle Technology™
    Tubercle Technology™
    WhalePower

    Inspired by the tubercles found on whale fins, WhalePower developed blades with bumps along the leading edges that allow for very high stall angles. Envira-North Systems in Ontario applied the technology to their high volume, low speed Altra-Air fan.P41

    In Market
  • Schooling Fish Wind Farms
    Schooling Fish Wind Farms
    Dr. John Dabiri, CalTech

    Engineers at Caltech developed algorithms inspired by schooling fish that decrease the amount of space required for vertical axis wind farms without compromising individual turbine efficiency.P39

    Development
  • Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
    Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
    Multiple Researchers

    Anti-reflective films inspired by the moth eye’s microstructure improve solar panel photo absorption by 5 to 10%.P80

    In Market
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Development
  • BioWAVE™ Power
    BioWAVE™ Power
    BioPower Systems

    bioWAVE™, a wave energy generator developed by BioPower Systems, mimics the motion of ocean vegetation. The swaying motion generates power through a unique hydraulic system undergoing testing in a 250 kW demonstration project.P31

    Development
  • Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Energy

    Ohio-based Pilus Energy, a subsidiary of Tauriga Sciences, is currently pilot testing its microbial fuel cell technology. As modified bacteria break down organics in wastewater, they produce electricity, treated water, and useful chemical compounds.P32

    Development
  • bioSTREAM™ Power
    bioSTREAM™ Power
    BioPower Systems

    BioPower Systems in Australia is developing fishtail-inspired modules that generate power from tidal currents. The fin of each module pivots relative to the direction of the current, creating a swimming motion that generates an electric current.P29

    Prototype
  • Electric Eel BattCell
    Electric Eel BattCell
    Advanced Biomimetic Sensors, Inc.

    Advanced Biomimetic Sensors claims that their patented BattCell prototype, inspired by the electric eel, uses a biomimetic membrane to enhance its power density beyond other fuel cell technologies.P28

    Prototype
  • Voltaic Pile
    Voltaic Pile
    Alessandro Volta

    Studies of the electric Torpedo ray and frog leg nerve responses led Alessandro Volta to build the first battery, the Voltaic pile, by stacking metal and salt-soaked discs in a similar arrangement to the discs within the fish’s electric organ.P33

    In Market
  • Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
    Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
    Ceralink, Inc.

    R&D firm Ceralink uses laminated object manufacturing, a rapid prototyping technique, to replicate bioinspired structures for use in clean energy applications. Terrapin worked with Ceralink to secure early-stage funding.P61

    Development
  • Aquaporin Inside™
    Aquaporin Inside™
    Aquaporin A/S

    Aquaporin A/S is pilot testing a membrane system embedded with biological water channels that can filter water using 80% less energy than conventional processes.P100

    In Market
  • Sahara Forest Project
    Sahara Forest Project
    Exploration Architecture

    The Sahara Forest Project, proposed by British firm Exploration Architecture, combines evaporation from Seawater Greenhouses (see Water) with excess heat from adjacent concentrated solar plants in order to create moist microclimates that curb desertification.P82

    Concept
  • Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
    Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
    Dr. Corey Noone, MIT

    Fibonacci spirals are a naturally-occurring strategy for packing many units together efficiently. Engineers at MIT have modeled a Fibonacci sequence for reflectors in concentrated solar plants, creating an arrangement that would theoretically reduce land use by 20%.P12

    Concept
  • Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Dr. Art Stipanovic, SUNY-ESF

    Terrapin helped secure early funding for research by Dr. Stipanovic at SUNY-ESF. He aims to isolate the digestive enzymes of Red Pandas – which efficiently convert biomass to fermentable sugarsfor use in biofuel production.P27

    Concept
  • Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Ear Protein-Inspired Power
    Cambrian Innovation

    The prestin protein in animal ears converts vibrations into electrical signals. IntAct Labs, now Cambrian Innovation, embedded prestin proteins into “skins” that generate electricity from movement and wind.P26

    Concept
  • Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Dr. Peter Dinolfo

    Terrapin assisted Dr. Dinolfo at RPI in securing funds for research that evaluates the rate and efficacy of an inexpensive catalyst. The catalyst mimics the water-splitting complex in plants and is used in artificial photosynthetic devices, zinc-air batteries, and other oxidation-dependent systems.P2

    Concept
  • Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Dr. Jiandi Wan, RIT

    Dr. Wan at RIT is developing a leaf-mimicking microfluidic device to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products like methane and methanol. Terrapin helped secure funding for this project.P3

    Concept
  • Photosynthetic Foam
    Photosynthetic Foam
    Dr. David Wendell, University of Cincinnati

    Inspired by the tungara frog, which produces long-lasting foam nests, engineers at the University of Cincinnati developed a stable foam from one of the frog’s proteins and combined it with photosynthetic enzymes that convert CO2 to sugars and oxygen.P4

    Concept

Software

Swipe
  • OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    Altair

    Inspired by the way bones grow, software developer Altair created structural analysis software that uses an evolutionary algorithm to find the optimum shape for components, reducing weight and materials without compromising strength.P24

    In Market
  • Swarm Logic™
    Swarm Logic™
    Encycle

    Inspired by bee communication, Encycle’s Swarm Logic™ systems reduce a building’s energy draw, especially during peak hours, by using individual wireless controllers that coordinate when HVAC units power on.P25

    In Market
  • Ant-Based Plane Guidance
    Ant-Based Plane Guidance
    Southwest Airlines

    Southwest Airlines developed an ant-inspired computing algorithm that drastically reduces the amount of time planes wait for gates to open at airports.P23

    In Market
  • Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
    Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
    Nu Tech Software Solutions, Inc.

    Bios Group, now NuTech Solutions, studied ant foraging to develop a logistics algorithm for industrial supplier Air Liquide. Air Liquide uses the algorithm to manage plant scheduling, weather, and deliveries, which has yielded substantial time and cost savings.P20

    Development
  • Honey Bee Web Hosting
    Honey Bee Web Hosting
    Dr. Craig Tovey, Georgia Tech

    Researchers at Georgia Tech developed an internet server system that adapts to user demand the way bees adapt to changing food sources: by communicating the new locations back to the hive. The system increased one web hosting company’s revenues by 20%.P18

    Development
  • Artificial Immune System Software
    Artificial Immune System Software
    Multiple Researchers

    Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

    Development
  • IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM, Cornell Tech

    Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

    Development
  • Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Dr. Shantanu Chakrabartty, Michigan State University

    Engineers at Michigan State developed a sensor based on a fly’s ear that accurately detects the source of sounds using a mechanical lever system and neuronal signal processing.P16

    Prototype
  • Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Multiple Researchers

    Compound insect eyes can detect movement much faster than traditional cameras. This capacity has inspired novel vision sensors for aerial systems, robotics, high-speed inspection in manufacturing, and other applications.P17

    Prototype
  • DNA Data Storage
    DNA Data Storage
    Dr. George Church, Harvard University

    Scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute coded 700 terabytes of data into less than one gram of DNA. The scientists believe that with further improvements, all the world’s data (1.8 zettabytes) could theoretically be stored in about 4 grams of DNA.P15

    Prototype
  • Autonomous Swarm Robots
    Autonomous Swarm Robots
    Dr. Radhika Nagpal, Harvard University

    Autonomous robot swarms, developed by researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute, organize themselves into complex shapes using swarm intelligence—a method of computation inspired by swarming organisms like ants, bees, birds, and bacteria.P14

    Prototype
  • Locust Collision Avoidance
    Locust Collision Avoidance
    Volvo Car Group

    Volvo is investigating how to incorporate the unique collision avoidance abilities of swarming locusts into crash avoidance sensors for cars.P13

    Concept
  • Bat-Nav System
    Bat-Nav System
    Dr. Arseny Finklestein, Weizmann Institute of Science

    Researchers at the Weizmann Institute in Israel found that bats track their positions in three dimensions using a donut-shaped coordinate system, which could inspire a new navigation system.P9

    Concept
  • DNA-Based Computing
    DNA-Based Computing
    Multiple Researchers

    DNA-based computers could theoretically use chemical base pairs as “switches.” This would enable a much more space-efficient, non-toxic form of computing that would pack the computing power of the most powerful supercomputer into a drop of water.P10

    Concept

Telecommunication

Swipe
  • Honey Bee Web Hosting
    Honey Bee Web Hosting
    Dr. Craig Tovey, Georgia Tech

    Researchers at Georgia Tech developed an internet server system that adapts to user demand the way bees adapt to changing food sources: by communicating the new locations back to the hive. The system increased one web hosting company’s revenues by 20%.P18

    Development
  • IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM, Cornell Tech

    Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

    Development
  • Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
    Dr. Shantanu Chakrabartty, Michigan State University

    Engineers at Michigan State developed a sensor based on a fly’s ear that accurately detects the source of sounds using a mechanical lever system and neuronal signal processing.P16

    Prototype
  • DNA-Based Computing
    DNA-Based Computing
    Multiple Researchers

    DNA-based computers could theoretically use chemical base pairs as “switches.” This would enable a much more space-efficient, non-toxic form of computing that would pack the computing power of the most powerful supercomputer into a drop of water.P10

    Concept
  • Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
    Dr. Joanna Aizenberg, Harvard University

    Highly fracture-resistant sea sponge spinacles could inspire tougher optical glass fibers manufactured at room temperature.P70

    Concept

Textiles & Apparel

Swipe
  • BioKnit Shoes
    BioKnit Shoes
    Ammo Liao Design

    Similar to the strategy seen in many organisms where a limited number of substances are specifically used to produce materials with diverse mechanical properties, the shoe’s manufacturing process uses a single material to create a recyclable shoe that features varying levels of softness, strength, and flexibility.P108

    Prototype
  • GreenShield®
    GreenShield®
    BigSky Technologies

    This nanoparticle-based textile finish, inspired by plant leaves, allows water droplets to roll off fabric, carrying along dirt and other particles to create a self-cleaning effect.P107

    In Market
  • Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
    Dr. Melik Demirel; Penn State

    Inspired by the mechanical properties of squid teeth, engineers created a polymer that can heal itself in the presence of warm water and slight pressure. This product may be applied in medical implants, textiles, cosmetics, and other applications where self-healing polymers are valuable.P109

    Prototype
  • Interface® Carpet
    Interface® Carpet
    Interface, Inc.

    Global carpet manufacturer Interface developed modular carpet tiles with patterns that can be laid down randomly, without glue, mimicking variegated leaves on a forest floor.P66

    In Market
  • VELCRO® Fasteners
    VELCRO® Fasteners
    Velcro Industries

    This ubiquitous fastener was inspired by the miniature hooks on seed burrs that allow them to cling to looped fabric.P69

    In Market
  • Engineered Silk
    Engineered Silk
    Bolt Threads

    Inspired by spider silk, Bolt Threads spins yeast-produced proteins into silk. These fibers–made from water, sugar, and salts–can provide garments and fabrics with greater durability and strength. The company raised $50 million in its Series C funding round.P103

    Development
  • Modern Meadow Leather
    Modern Meadow Leather
    Modern Meadow, Inc.

    Biotech startup Modern Meadow uses advanced tissue engineering techniques to make lab-grown leather that is analogous to leather produced from animals.P59

    Development

Transportation

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  • 500-Series Shinkasen Train
    500-Series Shinkasen Train
    Eiji Nakatsu

    The Japanese bullet train has a pointed nose inspired by the kingfisher’s beak that reduces noise and power consumption while increasing speed.P42

    In Market
  • OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
    Altair

    Inspired by the way bones grow, software developer Altair created structural analysis software that uses an evolutionary algorithm to find the optimum shape for components, reducing weight and materials without compromising strength.P24

    In Market
  • Ant-Based Plane Guidance
    Ant-Based Plane Guidance
    Southwest Airlines

    Southwest Airlines developed an ant-inspired computing algorithm that drastically reduces the amount of time planes wait for gates to open at airports.P23

    In Market
  • Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
    Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
    Nu Tech Software Solutions, Inc.

    Bios Group, now NuTech Solutions, studied ant foraging to develop a logistics algorithm for industrial supplier Air Liquide. Air Liquide uses the algorithm to manage plant scheduling, weather, and deliveries, which has yielded substantial time and cost savings.P20

    Development
  • IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM SyNAPSE Chip
    IBM, Cornell Tech

    Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

    Development
  • RoboClam Excavator
    RoboClam Excavator
    Dr. Anette Hosoi, MIT

    A team at MIT constructed a prototype robotic excavator inspired by the low-drag burrowing of Atlantic razor clams. The excavator could be used for reversible ocean anchoring, subsea cable installation, and ocean sensor placement.P38

    Prototype
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Development
  • Locust Collision Avoidance
    Locust Collision Avoidance
    Volvo Car Group

    Volvo is investigating how to incorporate the unique collision avoidance abilities of swarming locusts into crash avoidance sensors for cars.P13

    Concept
  • Bat-Nav System
    Bat-Nav System
    Dr. Arseny Finklestein, Weizmann Institute of Science

    Researchers at the Weizmann Institute in Israel found that bats track their positions in three dimensions using a donut-shaped coordinate system, which could inspire a new navigation system.P9

    Concept
  • Jellyfish Jet Propulsion
    Jellyfish Jet Propulsion
    Dr. John Dabiri, CalTech

    According to a research team at Caltech, jellyfish-inspired pulsed jet propulsion could be 50% more efficient that existing steady-jet propulsion.P37

    Concept
  • Snake-Inspired Flight
    Snake-Inspired Flight
    Dr. Jake Socha, Virginia Tech

    The tree snake Chrysopelea glides from tree to tree by flattening its body and swaying in the air. DARPA funded research on Chrysopelea for possible military applications.P35

    Concept
  • “V” Formation Flight
    “V” Formation Flight
    Dr. Ilan Kroo, Stanford University

    When moving through fluids, objects in a “V” formation expend less energy than solo objects.P36

    Concept
  • Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Dr. Peter Dinolfo

    Terrapin assisted Dr. Dinolfo at RPI in securing funds for research that evaluates the rate and efficacy of an inexpensive catalyst. The catalyst mimics the water-splitting complex in plants and is used in artificial photosynthetic devices, zinc-air batteries, and other oxidation-dependent systems.P2

    Concept
  • Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Dr. Jiandi Wan, RIT

    Dr. Wan at RIT is developing a leaf-mimicking microfluidic device to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products like methane and methanol. Terrapin helped secure funding for this project.P3

    Concept

Utilities

Swipe
  • Passive Fluid Transport
    Passive Fluid Transport
    Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

    With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

    Prototype
  • Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Symbiosis

    In Kalundborg, Denmark, over 16 industrial facilities and farms in close proximity exchange materials and energy. One plant’s waste becomes another’s raw material, saving about $15 million a year.P88

    In Market
  • FE2owlet Fan
    FE2owlet Fan
    Ziehl-Abegg

    Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

    In Market
  • Swarm Logic™
    Swarm Logic™
    Encycle

    Inspired by bee communication, Encycle’s Swarm Logic™ systems reduce a building’s energy draw, especially during peak hours, by using individual wireless controllers that coordinate when HVAC units power on.P25

    In Market
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
    Dr. Anil Netravali, Cornell University

    With assistance from Terrapin, Cornell researcher Dr. Anil Netravali is developing a superhydrophobic coating for high voltage power lines that reduces ice buildup, electrical outages, and costly infrastructure damage during winter storms.P52

    Prototype
  • Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Insect Eye Vision Sensor
    Multiple Researchers

    Compound insect eyes can detect movement much faster than traditional cameras. This capacity has inspired novel vision sensors for aerial systems, robotics, high-speed inspection in manufacturing, and other applications.P17

    Prototype
  • Schooling Fish Wind Farms
    Schooling Fish Wind Farms
    Dr. John Dabiri, CalTech

    Engineers at Caltech developed algorithms inspired by schooling fish that decrease the amount of space required for vertical axis wind farms without compromising individual turbine efficiency.P39

    Development
  • BioWAVE™ Power
    BioWAVE™ Power
    BioPower Systems

    bioWAVE™, a wave energy generator developed by BioPower Systems, mimics the motion of ocean vegetation. The swaying motion generates power through a unique hydraulic system undergoing testing in a 250 kW demonstration project.P31

    Development
  • bioSTREAM™ Power
    bioSTREAM™ Power
    BioPower Systems

    BioPower Systems in Australia is developing fishtail-inspired modules that generate power from tidal currents. The fin of each module pivots relative to the direction of the current, creating a swimming motion that generates an electric current.P29

    Prototype
  • Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
    Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
    Dr. Corey Noone, MIT

    Fibonacci spirals are a naturally-occurring strategy for packing many units together efficiently. Engineers at MIT have modeled a Fibonacci sequence for reflectors in concentrated solar plants, creating an arrangement that would theoretically reduce land use by 20%.P12

    Concept
  • Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
    Dr. Peter Dinolfo

    Terrapin assisted Dr. Dinolfo at RPI in securing funds for research that evaluates the rate and efficacy of an inexpensive catalyst. The catalyst mimics the water-splitting complex in plants and is used in artificial photosynthetic devices, zinc-air batteries, and other oxidation-dependent systems.P2

    Concept
  • Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
    Dr. Jiandi Wan, RIT

    Dr. Wan at RIT is developing a leaf-mimicking microfluidic device to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products like methane and methanol. Terrapin helped secure funding for this project.P3

    Concept

Warehouse & Distribution

Swipe
  • Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Symbiosis

    In Kalundborg, Denmark, over 16 industrial facilities and farms in close proximity exchange materials and energy. One plant’s waste becomes another’s raw material, saving about $15 million a year.P88

    In Market
  • HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
    Nova Laboratories Ltd.

    “Dry” vaccines, created by Nova Laboratories in the U.K., do not require refrigeration. The active materials are encased in a sugar matrix, a technique inspired by organisms that undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation.P93

    In Market
  • Ant-Based Plane Guidance
    Ant-Based Plane Guidance
    Southwest Airlines

    Southwest Airlines developed an ant-inspired computing algorithm that drastically reduces the amount of time planes wait for gates to open at airports.P23

    In Market
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • SampleMatrix®
    SampleMatrix®
    Biomatrica, Inc.

    The California-based company Biomatrica developed processes akin to anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, to stabilize fragile biological materials like DNA so they can be stored without refrigeration.P94

    In Market
  • Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
    Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
    Nu Tech Software Solutions, Inc.

    Bios Group, now NuTech Solutions, studied ant foraging to develop a logistics algorithm for industrial supplier Air Liquide. Air Liquide uses the algorithm to manage plant scheduling, weather, and deliveries, which has yielded substantial time and cost savings.P20

    Development

Waste Management

Swipe
  • Aquaponic Systems
    Aquaponic Systems
    Multiple Companies

    Hydroponics and fish farming are combined based on the symbiotic flow of nutrients between the fish and plants. Fish waste provides nutrients to the plants, which filter the water for the fish.P86

    In Market
  • Eco-Machine®
    Eco-Machine®
    John Todd Ecological Design

    John Todd Ecological Design uses constructed wetlands and aquatic tanks containing various microbes, plants, and aquatic animals to filter wastewater.P87

    In Market
  • Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Symbiosis

    In Kalundborg, Denmark, over 16 industrial facilities and farms in close proximity exchange materials and energy. One plant’s waste becomes another’s raw material, saving about $15 million a year.P88

    In Market
  • Biofilm-Based Technology
    Biofilm-Based Technology
    Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

    Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

    Prototype
  • Mango Materials
    Mango Materials
    Mango Materials

    Using waste methane as a feedstock, Mango Materials grows bacteria that naturally produce a biopolymer. This economically competitive material can be used to create biodegradable plastic as well as conventional products like electronic casings, bottles, and children’s toys.P105

    Development
  • Cardboard to Caviar
    Cardboard to Caviar
    Graham Wiles

    This closed-loop recycling scheme uses waste products like cardboard from restaurants to make products like caviar from farmed sturgeon. The concept could be replicated with other interrelated products to reduce waste and save energy and money.P83

    Prototype
  • Mushroom® Materials
    Mushroom® Materials
    Ecovative

    Ecovative grows mycelium in molds filled with agricultural waste. The fungi bind the waste fibers together into a solid mass, which is heat treated to produce a biodegradable alternative to harmful synthetic packaging and other products.P62

    In Market
  • WikiPearls™
    WikiPearls™
    WikiFoods, Inc.

    Inspired by fruit and vegetable peels, WikiPearls™, developed by WikiFoods, Inc., seal food and beverages in bite-sized, edible “wrappers” that obviate plastic packaging.P65

    In Market
  • Biolytix®
    Biolytix®
    Biolytix

    Biolytix markets a household wastewater treatment system that relies on worms and other organisms to filter water and break down sewage. The system uses no toxic chemicals and 90% less energy than conventional aerated sewage treatment systems.P101

    In Market
  • BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Products

    Headquartered in California, BioWorld sells mixes of specialized bacteria that break down hydrocarbons into less harmful chemicals. These products are authorized by the EPA for use on oil spills.P7

    In Market
  • Sahara Forest Project
    Sahara Forest Project
    Exploration Architecture

    The Sahara Forest Project, proposed by British firm Exploration Architecture, combines evaporation from Seawater Greenhouses (see Water) with excess heat from adjacent concentrated solar plants in order to create moist microclimates that curb desertification.P82

    Concept
  • Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
    Dr. Art Stipanovic, SUNY-ESF

    Terrapin helped secure early funding for research by Dr. Stipanovic at SUNY-ESF. He aims to isolate the digestive enzymes of Red Pandas – which efficiently convert biomass to fermentable sugarsfor use in biofuel production.P27

    Concept
  • Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
    Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
    Dr. Jim Spain, Georgia Tech

    Scientists at Georgia Tech patented the use of biological enzymes that break down harmful carbon compounds into valuable chemicals.P5

    Prototype

Water Treatment

Swipe
  • NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
    NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc.

    NBD Nano is developing a novel hydrophobic coating inspired by the Namibian Desert Beetle’s shell. This coating for condensing tubes in power plants increases heat transfer rate by 200%, and has applications in other industrial processes, thermal desalination, and fog harvesting. NBD Nano is moving into large scale pilot testing.P40

    Development
  • Aquaponic Systems
    Aquaponic Systems
    Multiple Companies

    Hydroponics and fish farming are combined based on the symbiotic flow of nutrients between the fish and plants. Fish waste provides nutrients to the plants, which filter the water for the fish.P86

    In Market
  • Eco-Machine®
    Eco-Machine®
    John Todd Ecological Design

    John Todd Ecological Design uses constructed wetlands and aquatic tanks containing various microbes, plants, and aquatic animals to filter wastewater.P87

    In Market
  • Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
    Kalundborg Symbiosis

    In Kalundborg, Denmark, over 16 industrial facilities and farms in close proximity exchange materials and energy. One plant’s waste becomes another’s raw material, saving about $15 million a year.P88

    In Market
  • Phoebe Framework
    Phoebe Framework
    Terrapin Bright Green

    Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

    Development
  • Lily Impeller
    Lily Impeller
    PAX Scientific

    The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

    In Market
  • µMist® Platform Technology
    µMist® Platform Technology
    Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

    Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

    Development
  • Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Cell™
    Pilus Energy

    Ohio-based Pilus Energy, a subsidiary of Tauriga Sciences, is currently pilot testing its microbial fuel cell technology. As modified bacteria break down organics in wastewater, they produce electricity, treated water, and useful chemical compounds.P32

    Development
  • Aquaporin Inside™
    Aquaporin Inside™
    Aquaporin A/S

    Aquaporin A/S is pilot testing a membrane system embedded with biological water channels that can filter water using 80% less energy than conventional processes.P100

    In Market
  • Biolytix®
    Biolytix®
    Biolytix

    Biolytix markets a household wastewater treatment system that relies on worms and other organisms to filter water and break down sewage. The system uses no toxic chemicals and 90% less energy than conventional aerated sewage treatment systems.P101

    In Market
  • Seawater Greenhouse
    Seawater Greenhouse
    Seawater Greenhouses Ltd. and Sundrop Farms Pty. Ltd.

    Inspired by the way the Namib beetle collects water from fog, Seawater Greenhouses use cold seawater, air movement and solar radiation to condense and collect fresh water for crops.P99

    Development
  • Fog Harvesting Mesh
    Fog Harvesting Mesh
    MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

    Researchers at MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile have designed specialized fog mesh nets that condense and capture 10% of the water in fog, a strategy inspired by how some Chilean organisms collect water from fog.P98

    Development
  • BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
    BioWorld™ Products

    Headquartered in California, BioWorld sells mixes of specialized bacteria that break down hydrocarbons into less harmful chemicals. These products are authorized by the EPA for use on oil spills.P7

    In Market
  • Cactus-Inspired Fog Harvesting
    Cactus-Inspired Fog Harvesting
    Dr. Jie Ju & Dr. Hao Bai, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    The spines of the cactus Opuntia microdasys have specialized structures that can collect and funnel fog droplets into its base, prompting interest in fog harvesting devices that mimic the spines’ structures.P96

    Concept

Wood Products

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  • Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
    Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
    Achim Menges, University of Stuttgart

    Taking inspiration from the material-efficient structures of organisms like sand dollars, architect Achim Menges constructed a bubble-like pavilion using interlocking timber panels.P55

    Prototype
  • PureBond®
    PureBond®
    Columbia Forest Products

    Developed by Columbia Forest Products, this soy-based glue mimics mussel adhesive. The North American panel manufacturer uses PureBond to laminate plywood without added formaldehyde.P68

    In Market

Market Readiness of Select Bioinspired Technologies

 

Carbon

 

Water

 

Materials

 

Energy Conversion & Storage

 

Optics & Photonics

 

Thermo-regulation

 

Fluid Dynamics

 

Data & Computing

 

Systems

Concept

 
Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
Protein-Mediated Calcite Ceramics
Dr. Colin Freeman, University of Sheffield

Some organisms control calcite deposition to build complex structures like eggs–a process that could inspire precise ceramic manufacturing techniques.P1

Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
Biomimetic Water-Splitting Catalyst
Dr. Peter Dinolfo

Terrapin assisted Dr. Dinolfo at RPI in securing funds for research that evaluates the rate and efficacy of an inexpensive catalyst. The catalyst mimics the water-splitting complex in plants and is used in artificial photosynthetic devices, zinc-air batteries, and other oxidation-dependent systems.P2

Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
Leaf-Mimicking Artificial Photosynthesis
Dr. Jiandi Wan, RIT

Dr. Wan at RIT is developing a leaf-mimicking microfluidic device to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products like methane and methanol. Terrapin helped secure funding for this project.P3

solar-feul

Photosynthetic Foam
Photosynthetic Foam
Dr. David Wendell, University of Cincinnati

Inspired by the tungara frog, which produces long-lasting foam nests, engineers at the University of Cincinnati developed a stable foam from one of the frog’s proteins and combined it with photosynthetic enzymes that convert CO2 to sugars and oxygen.P4

 
Cactus-Inspired Fog Harvesting
Cactus-Inspired Fog Harvesting
Dr. Jie Ju & Dr. Hao Bai, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The spines of the cactus Opuntia microdasys have specialized structures that can collect and funnel fog droplets into its base, prompting interest in fog harvesting devices that mimic the spines’ structures.P96

18_STRAT_Manuel-M-Ramos

 
Bacteria-Inspired Adhesive
Bacteria-Inspired Adhesive
Dr. Jay Tang, Brown University

The bacterium Caulobacter crescentus produces a biodegradable, waterproof adhesive with greater strain resistance than commercial super glues. Dr. Jay Tang at Brown University believes that mimicking its chemistry could yield a nontoxic glue that adheres underwater.P44

 
Spider Silk Fibers
Spider Silk Fibers
Multiple Researchers

Spider silk has high tensile strength, extensibility and toughness compared to synthetic fibers like Kevlar and nylon. Researchers are investigating how to produce similar fibers for extremely strong threads, cords, and cables.P45

Whale Pacemaker
Whale Pacemaker
Jorge Reynolds Pombo

Contractions in humpback whale hearts are controlled by nano-fibers that conduct electrical signals through an otherwise non-conductive grease coating the heart. Mimicking this concept using carbon nanowires could lead to a new type of pacemaker.P46

 
Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
Keratin-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
Dr. Chris Nomura, SUNY-ESF

Dr. Nomura at SUNY-ESF is producing low-embodied energy, keratin‐inspired polymers to be used as crosslinking agents in resins and coatings, replacing petroleum‐derived crosslinkers. Terrapin worked with the research team to find applications for the technology and secure funding.P47

Nacre-Inspired Deformable Glass
Nacre-Inspired Deformable Glass
Dr. Francois Barthelat, McGill University

Inspired by the microscopic structure of nacre and teeth, researchers at McGill University developed deformable glass that is 200 times tougher than standard glass due to a pattern of micro-cracks.P48

23.1_andreina-Schoeberlein

 
Ear Protein-Inspired Power
Ear Protein-Inspired Power
Cambrian Innovation

The prestin protein in animal ears converts vibrations into electrical signals. IntAct Labs, now Cambrian Innovation, embedded prestin proteins into “skins” that generate electricity from movement and wind.P26

 
Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
Red Panda Biofuel Enzymes
Dr. Art Stipanovic, SUNY-ESF

Terrapin helped secure early funding for research by Dr. Stipanovic at SUNY-ESF. He aims to isolate the digestive enzymes of Red Pandas – which efficiently convert biomass to fermentable sugarsfor use in biofuel production.P27

 
Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
Sea Sponge Glass Fibers
Dr. Joanna Aizenberg, Harvard University

Highly fracture-resistant sea sponge spinacles could inspire tougher optical glass fibers manufactured at room temperature.P70

Spider Web-Based Optoelectronics
Spider Web-Based Optoelectronics
Dr. Jinwei Gao, South China Normal University

Metallized spider webs perform better than standard optoelectronic arrays and can be stretched without losing performance. This finding by several academic teams paves the way to next-generation flexible touch screens.P71

 
Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
Moth Eye-Inspired X-Ray Imaging
Dr. Yasha Yi-a, City University of New York

Researchers found that a radial microstructure inspired by moth eyes increases light extraction of X-ray machine scintillators. This finding may enable lower dose radiation for imaging patients.P72

Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
Tardigrade-Inspired Organ Preservation
Multiple Researchers

Studying how tardigrades and other organisms undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, could lead to better preservation of organs for transplant.P90

Cactus-Inspired High-Rises
Cactus-Inspired High-Rises
Dr. Chris Letchford, RPI

Inspired by the saguaro cactus, Dr. Letchford at RPI is studying the aerodynamics of vertically-grooved, slender cylinders to define optimal geometries for reduced wind loading on tall buildings.P34

Snake-Inspired Flight
Snake-Inspired Flight
Dr. Jake Socha, Virginia Tech

The tree snake Chrysopelea glides from tree to tree by flattening its body and swaying in the air. DARPA funded research on Chrysopelea for possible military applications.P35

“V” Formation Flight
“V” Formation Flight
Dr. Ilan Kroo, Stanford University

When moving through fluids, objects in a “V” formation expend less energy than solo objects.P36

 
Jellyfish Jet Propulsion
Jellyfish Jet Propulsion
Dr. John Dabiri, CalTech

According to a research team at Caltech, jellyfish-inspired pulsed jet propulsion could be 50% more efficient that existing steady-jet propulsion.P37

 
Bat-Nav System
Bat-Nav System
Dr. Arseny Finklestein, Weizmann Institute of Science

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute in Israel found that bats track their positions in three dimensions using a donut-shaped coordinate system, which could inspire a new navigation system.P9

DNA-Based Computing
DNA-Based Computing
Multiple Researchers

DNA-based computers could theoretically use chemical base pairs as “switches.” This would enable a much more space-efficient, non-toxic form of computing that would pack the computing power of the most powerful supercomputer into a drop of water.P10

Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
Venus Flytrap Electrical Switches
Multiple Researchers

Trigger hairs inside the leaf of the carnivorous Venus flytrap act like electrical switches; when two are stimulated by an insect, the leaf closes. Such switches could inspire electrical devices made from abundant, non-toxic chemicals.P11

 
Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
Fibonacci Solar Power Plant
Dr. Corey Noone, MIT

Fibonacci spirals are a naturally-occurring strategy for packing many units together efficiently. Engineers at MIT have modeled a Fibonacci sequence for reflectors in concentrated solar plants, creating an arrangement that would theoretically reduce land use by 20%.P12

Locust Collision Avoidance
Locust Collision Avoidance
Volvo Car Group

Volvo is investigating how to incorporate the unique collision avoidance abilities of swarming locusts into crash avoidance sensors for cars.P13

 
Sahara Forest Project
Sahara Forest Project
Exploration Architecture

The Sahara Forest Project, proposed by British firm Exploration Architecture, combines evaporation from Seawater Greenhouses (see Water) with excess heat from adjacent concentrated solar plants in order to create moist microclimates that curb desertification.P82

Concept

Prototype

 
Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
Enzymatic Toxin Remediation
Dr. Jim Spain, Georgia Tech

Scientists at Georgia Tech patented the use of biological enzymes that break down harmful carbon compounds into valuable chemicals.P5

Passive Fluid Transport
Passive Fluid Transport
Dr. Philip Comanns; Aachen University

With potential applications in fields such as microfluidics, medical applications, and distilleries, this process of passively transporting fluid through interconnecting capillaries on a material’s surface mimics the water retrieving process of Texas horned lizards’ skin.P104

Termite Humidity Damping Device
Termite Humidity Damping Device
Terrapin Bright Green; Dr. Rupert Soar, Freeform Construction Ltd.; Dr. Scott Turner, SUNY-ESF

In collaboration with Terrapin Bright Green, Dr. Rupert Soar and Dr. Scott Turner are developing a passive humidity damping device based on the fungal combs in termite mounds. The device will stabilize humidity in building spaces, reducing a building’s energy demands.P97

Termite-fungus-comb

Biofilm-Based Technology
Biofilm-Based Technology
Dr. Neel Joshi, Harvard University

Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are expanding modified biofilms into a materials platform, with applications in nanoelectronics, industrial biocatalysis, optically active biological coatings, microbial fuel cells, and bioremediation.P50

Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
Enzyme-Inspired Polymer Synthesis
Dr. Geoff Coates, Cornell University

At Cornell University, Dr. Geoff Coates is developing an enzyme-like catalyst to synthesize biodegradable polyesters produced using significantly less energy than conventional polyester. Terrapin worked closely with Dr. Coates to develop research proposals and secure funding.P51

Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
Lotus Leaf-Inspired Coating
Dr. Anil Netravali, Cornell University

With assistance from Terrapin, Cornell researcher Dr. Anil Netravali is developing a superhydrophobic coating for high voltage power lines that reduces ice buildup, electrical outages, and costly infrastructure damage during winter storms.P52

Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
Dr. Rich Gross, SyntheZyme

At RPI, Dr. Rich Gross is synthesizing cost-effective, environmentally-friendly bioadhesives designed by mimicking the chemical and mechanistic features of marine mussels’ byssal threads. Terrapin worked with Dr. Gross to differentiate his technology from competitors and secure funding.P53

22.1_Brocken Inaglory_wiki - crop

Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
Squid-Inspired Self-Healing Polymer
Dr. Melik Demirel; Penn State

Inspired by the mechanical properties of squid teeth, engineers created a polymer that can heal itself in the presence of warm water and slight pressure. This product may be applied in medical implants, textiles, cosmetics, and other applications where self-healing polymers are valuable.P109

BioKnit Shoes
BioKnit Shoes
Ammo Liao Design

Similar to the strategy seen in many organisms where a limited number of substances are specifically used to produce materials with diverse mechanical properties, the shoe’s manufacturing process uses a single material to create a recyclable shoe that features varying levels of softness, strength, and flexibility.P108

 
Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall
Achim Menges, University of Stuttgart

Taking inspiration from the material-efficient structures of organisms like sand dollars, architect Achim Menges constructed a bubble-like pavilion using interlocking timber panels.P55

Modern Meadow Meat
Modern Meadow Meat
Modern Meadow, Inc.

Modern Meadow is using tissue engineering techniques that prompt animal cells to grow into muscle tissue for meat. This system provides an alternative to environmentally-destructive animal farming.P56

Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
Tree-Inspired Super Wicking Materials
Dr. Chunlei Guo, University of Rochester

Dr. Chunlei Guo at University of Rochester uses laser processing to produce superwicking materials that enable more efficient air conditioning. Terrapin worked with Dr. Guo to define the market value of his technology and secure funding.P54

22.2_titanium22

Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
Worm-Inspired Surgical Glue
Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Researchers at the Karp Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are developing a sandcastle worm-inspired surgical glue that sets while inside organs.P57

20.STRAT_kqedquest

 
Electric Eel BattCell
Electric Eel BattCell
Advanced Biomimetic Sensors, Inc.

Advanced Biomimetic Sensors claims that their patented BattCell prototype, inspired by the electric eel, uses a biomimetic membrane to enhance its power density beyond other fuel cell technologies.P28

 
bioSTREAM™ Power
bioSTREAM™ Power
BioPower Systems

BioPower Systems in Australia is developing fishtail-inspired modules that generate power from tidal currents. The fin of each module pivots relative to the direction of the current, creating a swimming motion that generates an electric current.P29

Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
Beetle Shell-Inspired Humidity Sensor
Dr. Seung-Yop Lee and Dr. Jungyul Park, Sogang University

Scientists at Sogang University have developed a microporous material inspired by the shell of the Hercules beetle that changes color in response to humidity levels. This material could be used in a low-power humidity sensor.P73

Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
Cephalopod Skin-Inspired Displays
Dr. Roger Hanlon, Marine Biological Laboratory

Inspired by cephalopods, researchers at the Eugene Bell Center in Massachusetts are creating electronic-sensing and color changing sheets. These optical materials may be used in low-power electronic displays.P74

Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
Seed-Inspired Color Changing Fibers
Dr. Mathias Kolle, MIT

After studying the photonic properties of the Margaritaria nobilius seed, researchers at MIT developed fibers that change color when stretched.P75

 
Vascular Window Cooling
Vascular Window Cooling
Benjamen Hatton, Wyss Institute

Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have created windows with microfluidic channels patterned like vascular circulatory systems.P91

 
RoboClam Excavator
RoboClam Excavator
Dr. Anette Hosoi, MIT

A team at MIT constructed a prototype robotic excavator inspired by the low-drag burrowing of Atlantic razor clams. The excavator could be used for reversible ocean anchoring, subsea cable installation, and ocean sensor placement.P38

DNA Data Storage
DNA Data Storage
Dr. George Church, Harvard University

Scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute coded 700 terabytes of data into less than one gram of DNA. The scientists believe that with further improvements, all the world’s data (1.8 zettabytes) could theoretically be stored in about 4 grams of DNA.P15

Autonomous Swarm Robots
Autonomous Swarm Robots
Dr. Radhika Nagpal, Harvard University

Autonomous robot swarms, developed by researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute, organize themselves into complex shapes using swarm intelligence—a method of computation inspired by swarming organisms like ants, bees, birds, and bacteria.P14

 
Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
Fly Ear Acoustic Sensor
Dr. Shantanu Chakrabartty, Michigan State University

Engineers at Michigan State developed a sensor based on a fly’s ear that accurately detects the source of sounds using a mechanical lever system and neuronal signal processing.P16

Insect Eye Vision Sensor
Insect Eye Vision Sensor
Multiple Researchers

Compound insect eyes can detect movement much faster than traditional cameras. This capacity has inspired novel vision sensors for aerial systems, robotics, high-speed inspection in manufacturing, and other applications.P17

 

 
Cardboard to Caviar
Cardboard to Caviar
Graham Wiles

This closed-loop recycling scheme uses waste products like cardboard from restaurants to make products like caviar from farmed sturgeon. The concept could be replicated with other interrelated products to reduce waste and save energy and money.P83

Prototype

Development

 
Blue Planet Green Building Materials
Blue Planet Green Building Materials
Blue Planet Ltd.

California-based Blue Planet synthesizes cement additives and other green building materials from waste carbon flue streams to make carbon-negative concrete. Terrapin is working with Blue Planet to identify potential demonstration sites in New York State.P6

8.1_USFWS-Pacific-Region

Mango Materials
Mango Materials
Mango Materials

Using waste methane as a feedstock, Mango Materials grows bacteria that naturally produce a biopolymer. This economically competitive material can be used to create biodegradable plastic as well as conventional products like electronic casings, bottles, and children’s toys.P105

 
Fog Harvesting Mesh
Fog Harvesting Mesh
MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Researchers at MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile have designed specialized fog mesh nets that condense and capture 10% of the water in fog, a strategy inspired by how some Chilean organisms collect water from fog.P98

NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
NBD Nano Hydrophobic Coatings
NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc.

NBD Nano is developing a novel hydrophobic coating inspired by the Namibian Desert Beetle’s shell. This coating for condensing tubes in power plants increases heat transfer rate by 200%, and has applications in other industrial processes, thermal desalination, and fog harvesting. NBD Nano is moving into large scale pilot testing.P40

Seawater Greenhouse
Seawater Greenhouse
Seawater Greenhouses Ltd. and Sundrop Farms Pty. Ltd.

Inspired by the way the Namib beetle collects water from fog, Seawater Greenhouses use cold seawater, air movement and solar radiation to condense and collect fresh water for crops.P99

19.2_Seawater-Greenhouses_abu-dhabi

Modern Meadow Leather
Modern Meadow Leather
Modern Meadow, Inc.

Biotech startup Modern Meadow uses advanced tissue engineering techniques to make lab-grown leather that is analogous to leather produced from animals.P59

23.2_cinnamon-cooper

SLIPS
SLIPS
SLIPS Technologies, Inc.

Inspired by the slippery surface of the pitcher plant, this microscopic coating has applications in anti-fouling, heat exchange, and rapid defrosting. SLIPS Technologies was launched in 2014 after incubation at Harvard’s Wyss Institute.P60

23.3_credit-SLIPS-Technologies

Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures
Ceralink, Inc.

R&D firm Ceralink uses laminated object manufacturing, a rapid prototyping technique, to replicate bioinspired structures for use in clean energy applications. Terrapin worked with Ceralink to secure early-stage funding.P61

Engineered Silk
Engineered Silk
Bolt Threads

Inspired by spider silk, Bolt Threads spins yeast-produced proteins into silk. These fibers–made from water, sugar, and salts–can provide garments and fabrics with greater durability and strength. The company raised $50 million in its Series C funding round.P103

Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
Shrimp-Inspired Composite Material
Nature Inspired Industries; Dr. David Kisailus (UC Riverside)

The developers of this highly impact-resistant composite material—inspired by the hard club of the Mantis shrimp—received an acquisition offer that provided initial seed investors a 10x return in only 18 months.P49

µMist® Platform Technology
µMist® Platform Technology
Swedish Biomimetics 3000 Ltd.

Licensed to Swedish Biomimetics 3000, μMist® Platform Technology mimics the high velocity spray valve of the Bombardier Beetle to vaporize liquids using lower pressure than conventional systems. μMist could lead to more efficient combustion engines.P30

25.1_robin_24

BioWAVE™ Power
BioWAVE™ Power
BioPower Systems

bioWAVE™, a wave energy generator developed by BioPower Systems, mimics the motion of ocean vegetation. The swaying motion generates power through a unique hydraulic system undergoing testing in a 250 kW demonstration project.P31

Pilus Cell™
Pilus Cell™
Pilus Energy

Ohio-based Pilus Energy, a subsidiary of Tauriga Sciences, is currently pilot testing its microbial fuel cell technology. As modified bacteria break down organics in wastewater, they produce electricity, treated water, and useful chemical compounds.P32

 
Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
Butterfly-Inspired IR Sensor
Dr. Radislav Potyrailo, GE Global Research

GE Global Research is using Morpho butterfly wing scale microstructures as inspiration for small, highly sensitive infrared sensors.P76

 
Schooling Fish Wind Farms
Schooling Fish Wind Farms
Dr. John Dabiri, CalTech

Engineers at Caltech developed algorithms inspired by schooling fish that decrease the amount of space required for vertical axis wind farms without compromising individual turbine efficiency.P39

 
Honey Bee Web Hosting
Honey Bee Web Hosting
Dr. Craig Tovey, Georgia Tech

Researchers at Georgia Tech developed an internet server system that adapts to user demand the way bees adapt to changing food sources: by communicating the new locations back to the hive. The system increased one web hosting company’s revenues by 20%.P18

IBM SyNAPSE Chip
IBM SyNAPSE Chip
IBM, Cornell Tech

Scientists at IBM and Cornell Tech developed a chip inspired by neural networks that increases performance during data-intensive computations and drastically reduces power consumption.P19

Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
Ant-Based Distribution Algorithm
Nu Tech Software Solutions, Inc.

Bios Group, now NuTech Solutions, studied ant foraging to develop a logistics algorithm for industrial supplier Air Liquide. Air Liquide uses the algorithm to manage plant scheduling, weather, and deliveries, which has yielded substantial time and cost savings.P20

Artificial Immune System Software
Artificial Immune System Software
Multiple Researchers

Artificial immune systems are inspired by the way higher organism immune systems detect foreign bodies and adapt to rid the body of them. These algorithms are used in computer security, robotics, and fault detection.P21

Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
Evolutionary-Designed Antenna
NASA

NASA contractors compared designs for a spacecraft antenna, one of which was developed using an evolutionary algorithm and the other using conventional engineering. The former outperformed the latter in functionality and reduced design time.P22

 
Biomimetic Investing
Biomimetic Investing
Honeybee Capital

Katherine Collins of Honeybee Capital proposed an investing framework that uses biological principles to encourage resilient, regenerative, and profitable investing activities.P84

 
Phoebe Framework
Phoebe Framework
Terrapin Bright Green

Created by Terrapin, the Framework for the Built Ecological Environment, or “Phoebe Framework,” is a suite of tools that use ecosystem-based assessment to: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology.P85

Development

In Market

BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
BioWorld™ Oil Spill Bioremediation
BioWorld™ Products

Headquartered in California, BioWorld sells mixes of specialized bacteria that break down hydrocarbons into less harmful chemicals. These products are authorized by the EPA for use on oil spills.P7

Converge® Polyols
Converge® Polyols
Novomer

Novomer took inspiration from photosynthetic organisms and developed a process that sequesters carbon by converting waste CO2 and CO into useful chemical polymers.P8 Currently, Ford is developing foams and plastics for its vehicles using the technology.P111

17.1_Novomer_flickr

 
Aquaporin Inside™
Aquaporin Inside™
Aquaporin A/S

Aquaporin A/S is pilot testing a membrane system embedded with biological water channels that can filter water using 80% less energy than conventional processes.P100

19.1_Aquaporin-Inside

Biolytix®
Biolytix®
Biolytix

Biolytix markets a household wastewater treatment system that relies on worms and other organisms to filter water and break down sewage. The system uses no toxic chemicals and 90% less energy than conventional aerated sewage treatment systems.P101

Biocement™ Bricks
Biocement™ Bricks
bioMASON

Combining sand, bacteria, nutrients, a nitrogen source, a calcium source, and water, biotech startup bioMASON “grows” bricks by leveraging the bacteria’s metabolic activities, which cause calcium carbonate to cement the sand together without firing.P58 The company has started licensing their technology so bricks can be manufactured on-demand at a construction site.

22.3_biomason-photos

Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo uses microbes to grow valuable products. The microorganisms are modified by introducing DNA sequences known to produce industry-relevant materials. The company has focused on sectors including “flavors and fragrance, cosmetics and personal care, and food and nutrition” and recently raised $100 million in Series C funding.P110

GreenShield®
GreenShield®
BigSky Technologies

This nanoparticle-based textile finish, inspired by plant leaves, allows water droplets to roll off fabric, carrying along dirt and other particles to create a self-cleaning effect.P107

Mother Dirt™
Mother Dirt™
AOBiome

This body spray contains bacteria that convert urea and ammonia in sweat—which is abrasive to the skin, causing acne and irritation—into nitrite, which has anti-inflammatory properties. The spray reduces a user’s dependence on modern hygiene products and replenishes the skin microbiome.P89

Mother Dirt products

Mushroom® Materials
Mushroom® Materials
Ecovative

Ecovative grows mycelium in molds filled with agricultural waste. The fungi bind the waste fibers together into a solid mass, which is heat treated to produce a biodegradable alternative to harmful synthetic packaging and other products.P62

21.3_mycobond

Sharklet™
Sharklet™
Sharklet Technologies, Inc.

Sharklet™ surface textures are used on products like medical devices, furniture, and cell phone cases. The plastic coatings have microscopic patterns inspired by sharkskin that repel bacteria without perpetuating antibiotic resistance.P64

21.2_sharklet

WikiPearls™
WikiPearls™
WikiFoods, Inc.

Inspired by fruit and vegetable peels, WikiPearls™, developed by WikiFoods, Inc., seal food and beverages in bite-sized, edible “wrappers” that obviate plastic packaging.P65

Hairprint®
Hairprint®
Hairprint; Warner Babcock Institute

This hair treatment, currently designed for brown or black hair, restores gray hair to its former color. The technology mimics the hair pigmentation process and uses the natural pigment eumelanin that dictates hair color.P102

 
Interface® Carpet
Interface® Carpet
Interface, Inc.

Global carpet manufacturer Interface developed modular carpet tiles with patterns that can be laid down randomly, without glue, mimicking variegated leaves on a forest floor.P66

StoCoat Lotusan®
StoCoat Lotusan®
Sto Corp.

Building products manufacturer Sto Corp. developed a hydrophobic acrylic paint that mimics the self-cleaning properties of the lotus leaf.P67

PLAK

PureBond®
PureBond®
Columbia Forest Products

Developed by Columbia Forest Products, this soy-based glue mimics mussel adhesive. The North American panel manufacturer uses PureBond to laminate plywood without added formaldehyde.P68

VELCRO® Fasteners
VELCRO® Fasteners
Velcro Industries

This ubiquitous fastener was inspired by the miniature hooks on seed burrs that allow them to cling to looped fabric.P69

 
Voltaic Pile
Voltaic Pile
Alessandro Volta

Studies of the electric Torpedo ray and frog leg nerve responses led Alessandro Volta to build the first battery, the Voltaic pile, by stacking metal and salt-soaked discs in a similar arrangement to the discs within the fish’s electric organ.P33

 
ChromaFlair® Paint
ChromaFlair® Paint
JDSU

JDSU, a manufacturer based in California, makes brilliant, color-shifting paints that use the thin-film interference phenomenon found in butterfly wings and seashells. The company’s ChromaFlair® paint is used on cars, sports equipment, and building interiors.P77

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Dyesol

Dyesol’s dye-sensitized solar cells, which mimic the electron transport chain in photosynthesis, are printed on thin, flexible plastic using non-toxic, low-energy manufacturing.P78

IRLens™
IRLens™
Schaefer Ventilation

Schaefer Ventilation’s HotZone® Radiant Heaters rely on a lobster eye-inspired lens that focuses infrared radiation, heating a concentrated area instead of diffusing heat like standard radiant heaters.P79

ORNILUX Glass
ORNILUX Glass
Arnold Glas

After studying how birds in flight avoid spider webs, the European glass manufacturer Arnold Glas commercialized ORNILUX, a spider web-patterned UV reflective glass that reduces bird collisions by 77%.P81

 
Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
Moth Eye Anti-Reflective Film
Multiple Researchers

Anti-reflective films inspired by the moth eye’s microstructure improve solar panel photo absorption by 5 to 10%.P80

HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
Nova Laboratories Ltd.

“Dry” vaccines, created by Nova Laboratories in the U.K., do not require refrigeration. The active materials are encased in a sugar matrix, a technique inspired by organisms that undergo anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation.P93

 
Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
Leaf-Inspired Injection Molds
HARBEC, Inc.

Plastics manufacturer HARBEC incorporated internal cooling channels in its molds, mimicking the flow patterns in dicot leaves, to dissipate heat more effectively. The new molds reduce cooling time and energy consumption by more than 20%. The increase in production speed has allowed HARBEC to fulfill tighter turn-around times.P92

Harbec dicot

SampleMatrix®
SampleMatrix®
Biomatrica, Inc.

The California-based company Biomatrica developed processes akin to anhydrobiosis, or extreme desiccation, to stabilize fragile biological materials like DNA so they can be stored without refrigeration.P94

 
Arctic Fish-Inspired Ice Cream
Arctic Fish-Inspired Ice Cream
Unilever

Unilever developed a creamier, low-fat ice cream by adding an ice-structuring protein adopted from an arctic fish. The protein prevents large ice crystals from forming.P95

Tubercle Technology™
Tubercle Technology™
WhalePower

Inspired by the tubercles found on whale fins, WhalePower developed blades with bumps along the leading edges that allow for very high stall angles. Envira-North Systems in Ontario applied the technology to their high volume, low speed Altra-Air fan.P41

 
500-Series Shinkasen Train
500-Series Shinkasen Train
Eiji Nakatsu

The Japanese bullet train has a pointed nose inspired by the kingfisher’s beak that reduces noise and power consumption while increasing speed.P42

FE2owlet Fan
FE2owlet Fan
Ziehl-Abegg

Inspired by the silent air movement over barn owl wings, the fan can improve the efficiency of air conditioners, refrigerators, and other ventilators by 15% while also reducing noise levels.P106

Lily Impeller
Lily Impeller
PAX Scientific

The form of the Lily Impeller, a highly efficient industrial mixer designed by PAX Scientific, was inspired by the aerodynamic shape of bird wings, rotating maple seeds, and other natural structures.P43

 
Ant-Based Plane Guidance
Ant-Based Plane Guidance
Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines developed an ant-inspired computing algorithm that drastically reduces the amount of time planes wait for gates to open at airports.P23

 
OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
OptiStruct® Structural Optimization
Altair

Inspired by the way bones grow, software developer Altair created structural analysis software that uses an evolutionary algorithm to find the optimum shape for components, reducing weight and materials without compromising strength.P24

Swarm Logic™
Swarm Logic™
Encycle

Inspired by bee communication, Encycle’s Swarm Logic™ systems reduce a building’s energy draw, especially during peak hours, by using individual wireless controllers that coordinate when HVAC units power on.P25

Aquaponic Systems
Aquaponic Systems
Multiple Companies

Hydroponics and fish farming are combined based on the symbiotic flow of nutrients between the fish and plants. Fish waste provides nutrients to the plants, which filter the water for the fish.P86

Eco-Machine®
Eco-Machine®
John Todd Ecological Design

John Todd Ecological Design uses constructed wetlands and aquatic tanks containing various microbes, plants, and aquatic animals to filter wastewater.P87

Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis
Kalundborg Symbiosis

In Kalundborg, Denmark, over 16 industrial facilities and farms in close proximity exchange materials and energy. One plant’s waste becomes another’s raw material, saving about $15 million a year.P88

In Market
  • Advanced Materials

               
  • Agriculture

           
  • Arts & Entertainment

         
  • Biotechnology

               
  • Broadcast

     
  • Building Construction

             
  • Building Systems

                   
  • Cement & Concrete

       
  • Chemical Manufacturing

             
  • Data Centers

           
  • Electronics

               
  • Fibers & Filaments

       
  • Financial Services

       
  • Food Manufacturing

               
  • Glass Products

           
  • Healthcare

             
  • Household Goods

       
  • HVAC & Refrigeration

                 
  • Industrial Machinery

               
  • Lighting

     
  • Metal Manufacturing

       
  • Mining

       
  • Oil & Gas

           
  • Optics & Imaging

           
  • Paints & Adhesives

           
  • Pharmaceuticals

       
  • Plastic Products

           
  • Power Generation, Distribution & Storage

                   
  • Software

     
  • Telecommunication

       
  • Textiles & Apparel

     
  • Transportation

           
  • Utilities

                 
  • Warehouse & Distribution

         
  • Waste Management

             
  • Water Treatment

             
  • Wood Products

     

Bioinspired Innovation: An Economic Engine


This section was prepared for Terrapin by the Fermanian Business & Economic Institute. It forecasts the economic impact that bioinspired innovation will have on gross domestic product and job growth by 2030 ($425 billion and 2 million jobs, respectively). Recent research and publications have established the Institute as a thought leader on the economic potential of bioinspired innovation. The Institute is a strategic unit of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California.


It is becoming increasingly clear that innovation and technological breakthroughs are not only keys to economic growth in the twenty-first century but also are necessary for human prosperity. The millions of materials and systems found in nature are a treasure trove of innovation, and companies can benefit by using these designs to reduce the time and costs associated with technology and product development. New channels of innovation, new products and markets, increased efficiency, and sustainability goals can all be realized through bioinspired innovation.

Many companies have profitably pursued the path of biologically-inspired innovation. Biomatrica, a rapidly growing biotechnology company, licenses a system for preserving and stabilizing biological samples based on processes observed in brine shrimp. Interface, the world’s largest manufacturer of carpet tiles, developed its best-selling product line by mimicking the random colors and patterns of the forest floor. PAX Scientific—founded on the insight that human hearts, birds in flight, and falling maple seeds use vortices to move fluid efficiently—has designed and sold their vortex water technologies to more than 1,000 customers, greatly reducing energy consumption at each installation.

While some concepts inspired by nature may disrupt existing markets, others may open up entirely new ones, as was the case with Qualcomm, which acquired the company Iridigm to form Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, or QMT. QMT developed low power, color display screens that can be viewed in full sunlight, a technology inspired by the way light interacts with the surface of butterfly wings. In recent years, the technology has been used in e-readers and smartwatches, allowing Qualcomm to enter into the electronic display market.

Sustainability initiatives are often driven by governmental regulations or the whims of individual managers. However, regulations can shift when economic growth or jobs appear to be in jeopardy, and a firm’s management team may serve only a limited tenure. Shareholders will always look at underlying returns and profitability, but individuals and investment firms are increasingly considering environmental and social concerns. Bioinspiration offers a bridge between the seemingly incompatible interests of business and the environment. It is a compelling “win-win” approach: bioinspired innovation enables businesses to realize profit while also achieving sustainability goals.

TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT

Bioinspired innovation has the potential to transform large segments of the U.S. economy by increasing both gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. The Fermanian Business & Economic Institute (Institute) estimates that bioinspired innovation could account for approximately $425 billion of U.S. GDP by 2030 (valued in 2013 dollars). Beyond 2030, the impact of bioinspired innovation is expected to grow as knowledge and awareness of the field expand.

FBEI_GDPIndustries_BarChart

The industries shown in Figure 1 represent the majority of the $425 billion that bioinspired innovation will contribute to 2030 GDP. The largest single-industry contributions are expected in building construction (including the cement and concrete sector), chemical manufacturing, and the power generation, distribution, and storage sectors. Some of the largest impacts of bioinspired innovation will occur in the manufacture of durable and nondurable goods due to the increased use of new bioinspired materials and processes. Also, there is a strong link between bioinspired innovation and energy; the transportation, oil and gas, and utility industries all stand to benefit from, or be transformed by, bioinspired innovation. In total, these sectors represent $113 billion—more than a quarter of the total forecasted GDP related to bioinspired innovation.

While bioinspired products will impact the economic performance of fields as diverse as transportation, electronics, and food manufacturing, they will also increase employment in these sectors. Reflecting the expected penetration in various industries, bioinspired innovation could generate approximately 2 million jobs by 2030 (see Figure 2).

FBEI_Jobs_Industries_BarChart

TRACKING ACTIVITY IN BIOINSPIRED INNOVATION

The Da Vinci Index 2.0, which was created by the Institute, is derived from a comprehensive database that uses advanced methodology and information to measure activity in bioinspiration, biomimicry, and biomimetics. The Index monitors the number of U.S. patents issued, scholarly articles published, grants awarded by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, and the value of those grants for any given period. By extension, the Index offers insight into technologies in development at universities, research labs, and corporations. Granular data within the Index provides information on which fields of study are receiving the most attention and which regions of the world are most active in bioinspired innovation.

FBEI_Da Vinci Index chart

The Da Vinci Index 2.0 (see Figure 3) is estimated to have reached a record high of just over 900 in 2014 (where the year 2000 equals 100), mainly due to a surge in published scholarly articles and steady growth of patents. The strong trend indicates the continued growth of bioinspired research and technology development. Compared to the keen interest recently expressed in “green tech,” bioinspired innovation offers less risk since it is less reliant on varying regulations (e.g., mandates for alternative energy sources or reduced pollution) and subsidies, which also fluctuate. As with any cutting-edge research, the challenge is to transition from compelling preliminary studies and ideas to tangible implementation and commercialization.

While total utility patent applications in the U.S. increased about 100% between 2000 and 2014, bioinspired patent activity has been much more active. Utility patents in the U.S. related to bioinspired innovation grew by nearly 750% relative to 2000 filings. Though investment returns for the bioinspired products developed from these applications will vary, investors looking for new ideas and investment opportunities will direct increasing amounts of capital to the field as it becomes better known through documented successes.

THE FUTURE OF BIOINSPIRED INNOVATION

Although bioinspired innovation holds enormous potential for the global economy, it still has far to go to fulfill its promise of transforming large portions of our economy. The vast majority of Americans, including company leaders and government policymakers, are not yet familiar with the idea of looking to nature to solve human challenges.

Bioinspired innovation clearly represents an appealing niche for financial and investment markets. It is an area that the Institute expects will provide sizable growth and profit opportunities to companies and financial service providers alike.


Carbon

Carbon is an integral part of life’s “economy.” Unlike the anthropogenic buildup of carbon in the atmosphere and ocean, carbon is used by organisms to accomplish functions, and it is exchanged in cyclic flows between organisms and regional ecosystems. The abundance of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) should be viewed as a ubiquitous resource and business opportunity.9  Achieving goals like New York State’s 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, relative to 2010 levels, will require not only easily achievable measures, such as retrofitting existing buildings to reduce energy use-related emissions, but also new strategies such as reusing carbon to ensure a prosperous low-carbon economy.10 If properly funded, these additional reduction measures will come from bioinspired technology.

Copyright: Stanley Sagov / Flickr

Industries:

Advanced Materials | Arts & Entertainment | Biotechnology | Building Construction | Cement & Concrete | Chemical Manufacturing | Houshold Goods | Mining | Oil & Gas | Optics & Imaging | Paints & Adhesives | Plastic Products | Power Generation, Distribution & Storage | Transportation | Utilities | Waste Management | Water Treatment

See Graph

Selected Strategies

Capture
Mollusks capture carbon and combine it with calcium to build strong, intricate seashells.

Copyright: Steve Jurvetson / Flickr.

Carbon in the form of CO2 is captured by a large subset of organisms in our ecosystems. Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria—all primary producers—supply the base layer of materials, or carbon feedstocks, to the ecosystem. Similarly, technologies currently in development will allow industry to capture carbon emissions directly from waste flue streams. GHG emissions produced by our economy can be captured and integrated into our existing material stream, moving us toward a cyclic carbon economy. Systems and materials that use waste carbon, such as Blue Planet’s carbon-sequestering concrete, will create a much needed “sink” in the global carbon cycle and represent a huge economic opportunity for companies who accomplish this feat.11

Storage

The sequestration of carbon occurs in life’s materials; all organisms are composed of carbon-based materials. The temporary storage of carbon in the ecosystem varies from days to eons, but carbon always moves through a cyclic process. In contrast, most of our synthetic materials and fuel move linearly from fossilized carbon to landfills, oceans, and the atmosphere. Companies and researchers are mimicking natural carbon storage by incorporating waste carbon into valuable fuels, polymers, and construction materials that comprise billion-dollar markets. Artificial photosynthesis is one such innovation that is beginning to tap and even expand these markets.

Utilization

Carbon is cycled from molecule to molecule across organisms, incorporated into materials to meet various needs; the use of carbon is intimately connected to the storage of carbon. Often, stored carbon (whether from fossil or living sources) acts as a building block and as a temporary vessel for energy, allowing organisms to intake, store, and later use the carbon molecules as a material feedstock and chemical energy. Innovative companies, such as Novomer, are beginning to use waste CO2-derived molecules when creating materials.12

Existing Products

Blue Planet Products
Blue Planet Products

The production of one ton of cement typically results in the emission of approximately one ton of CO2.13 With the annual global production of cement at roughly 4 billion tons, the construction industry is a major carbon emitter.14 California-based Blue Planet has developed a technology that captures CO2 from flue gas and creates carbonate minerals to replace the Portland cement or aggregate components of concrete, or to be used in other green building materials. Their low temperature and low pressure process is inspired by the biomineralization of corals, which use dissolved CO2 to grow solid reefs. The Blue Planet process has overcome the high capital and operating costs of similar technologies. When paired with a cement or coal plant’s flue stream, the technology can produce concrete that is carbon negative. Scaled globally, Blue Planet could sequester more than 10 billion tons of CO2 over the next decade.15 This type of technology is needed to reduce the 5-7% of global CO2 emissions attributed to cement production and beyond.16 Pilot scale operations are underway in the U.S.; Terrapin is working with Blue Planet to identify potential sites in New York State.

Converge® Polyols
Converge® Polyols

Copyright: Novomer / Flickr

Conventional plastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, consist of chains of carbon atoms derived from petroleum. Novomer, a chemical company based in Massachusetts and New York, has taken inspiration from the carbon cycle in photosynthetic organisms and developed technologies that capture and utilize waste carbon monoxide (CO) and CO2 in the creation of valuable polymers and chemical intermediates. Their proprietary catalyst enables the low temperature (~35°C/95°F) and low pressure incorporation of CO2 into the molecular backbone of plastics, resulting in a CO2/CO-derived carbon content of 50%.17 Novomer’s Converge® materials boast high performance metrics and cost competitiveness. After scaling to a production rate of thousands of tons per year, their products are currently being used in commercial applications by Ford Motor Company and by several adhesive and polyurethane manufacturers, including Germany-based Jowat AG.18,19,P111

Products in Development

Solar Fuels
Solar Fuels

Copyright: alonzo petrovich / Flickr

The emerging technology artificial photosynthesis combines water, CO2, and solar energy into liquid or gaseous fuel (solar fuels) in a process akin to natural photosynthesis. These high-energy molecules, such as methane and other hydrocarbons, hold the potential to seamlessly fit into our existing energy and transportation infrastructure. With assistance from Terrapin, Dr. Jiandi Wan of Rochester Institute of Technology is mimicking not only the system but the physiology of photosynthesizers by utilizing microfluidics and photochemistry to produce solar fuels. By emulating the small fluid channels seen in leaves, the device forces the reactants (CO2 and water) into proximity, creating a more effective platform to chemically reduce them to solar fuels.20 This elegant replication of photosynthesis takes advantage of readily-available materials and sunlight.

Water

Water, which is essential to life, is also essential to many industrial processes, systems, and energy technologies. Its presence or absence affects the energy demands of buildings, the growth and processing of agricultural products, the corrosion or fouling of materials, and the health of human populations. Increasingly, the use of water is threatened by limited access and availability of fresh water. Natural systems optimize the acquisition and use of water, gathering diffuse flows of water vapor and water from varied sources.

Copyright: Heather / Flickr

Industries:

Agriculture | Biotechnology | Building Systems | Chemical Manufacturing | Food Manufacturing | HVAC & Refrigeration | Power Generation, Distribution & Storage | Waste Management | Water Treatment

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Selected Strategies

Forward Osmosis
Some cactus spines have specialized structures to condense water vapor and funnel it into their stems.

Copyright: Manuel M. Ramos / Flickr

Almost 800 million people globally do not have access to potable water.21 Providing drinking water in an energy-efficient manner is both a necessity and a business opportunity. All organisms leverage the natural phenomenon of osmosis—the movement of water across a membrane from one concentration to another—to their advantage. Plants and animals rely on this passive transfer to extract pure water from salt, brackish, and contaminated water sources. Mimicking osmosis may lead to scalable technologies for producing clean drinking water that can be deployed globally. Aquaporin A/S uses osmosis in its low-energy water filtration and desalination technology. The use of osmotic pressure to spin turbines—osmotic power—is also under development as a renewable energy source.

Humidity Control

Moisture—at high and low levels—poses a challenge to building environmental control systems and can degrade materials over time. Plants, however, maintain high humidity levels in the interior air spaces of their leaves through simple, responsive ventilation using openings on the bottom side of leaves. Also, termites impede humidity fluctuations by means of absorbent fungal structures.22 A research team collaborating with Terrapin is investigating ways to mimic this and other strategies in a passive humidity damping device for application in buildings.

Moisture Harvesting

Much of the water that humans use is in a liquid state, but several ingenious organisms harvest water vapor. A cactus native to Mexico uses its spines to collect water droplets from fog23; the Namib Desert beetle uses its black bumpy shell to condense water vapor24; and some bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts) readily absorb moisture from the air.25 Taking cues from nature, researchers at MIT and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile have tapped this resource. Their fog harvesting mesh technology can capture 10% of the water vapor contained in fog, offering a market-ready solution for semi-arid regions like Chile, where capturing only 4% of the water content in fog would meet the water needs of the nation’s northern regions.26

Existing Products

Aquaporin Inside™
Aquaporin Inside™

Photo Copyright: WaterWorld

Aquaporin Inside™, commercialized by Aquaporin A/S, utilizes biological water transportation to filter wastewater, saltwater, and contaminated fresh water. All organisms have specialized water transport channels in their cells, called aquaporins, that selectively move water across membranes while preventing other molecules from passing through. Aquaporin A/S has embedded functioning aquaporins into water membrane technology to harness this water filtration capability.27 The technique—a form of forward osmosis—reduces energy costs of water filtration by 80% compared to reverse osmosis filtration methods, which require high pressures.28 In addition to manufacturing filters for current filtration equipment, the company has formed strategic partnerships to commercialize new applications in the Chinese and Singaporean markets.29 

Seawater Greenhouse
Seawater Greenhouse

Copyright: Seawater Greenhouse

Seawater greenhouse systems emulate the water harvesting strategy used by the Namib Desert beetle, which leverages the abundant solar resource, diurnal temperature differentials, and prevailing warm winds to condense humidity into fresh water. These systems distill seawater to grow crops year-round in arid climates where horticulture is otherwise cost prohibitive. The technology uses cool seawater, solar thermal systems, and warm, ambient air to evaporate and then condense water vapor into considerable volumes of fresh water. The Sahara Forest Project’s Qatar pilot plant deployed this system to grow high-value food crops using 50% less water than comparable operations.30 Seawater Greenhouse Ltd. and Australia-based Sundrop Farms have commercialized this technology and claim that reduced operating and fixed costs and the ability to use non-productive, inexpensive land results in up to 35% greater returns on invested capital than conventional modern greenhouses.31 

Products in Development

Humidity Damping
Humidity Damping

Termite Humidity Sponge courtesy of Scott Turner.

In collaboration with Terrapin, researchers are currently developing a humidity damping device to passively dehumidify buildings in humid climates. The device is based on the fungal combs found in Macrotermes termite colonies, which help maintain the interior humidity level of the termite mound despite outside humidity fluctuations. These fungal combs—constructed by the termites as a food source—absorb water vapor from air in high relative humidity (RH) conditions and release it during times of low RH, passively regulating interior RH. To create this device, the team is experimenting with materials that mimic the absorption properties and the complex shape of the comb. Unlike current technologies such as enthalpy or desiccant wheels, the device would greatly reduce the amount of energy currently used in HVAC systems to maintain industry-standard RH levels and low RH levels in moisture-sensitive industrial processes.32 

Materials

Materials—with their various strengths, finishes, and functions—underpin all industries, even those that involve intangible goods and services. Therefore, creating materials that provide superior performance at minimal cost is important to every business. Organisms, which “manufacture” their tissues at ambient conditions using locally available materials and energy, offer myriad examples of resource-efficient material manufacturing. Nature constructs these materials with a vast array of functions unsurpassed by many synthetic materials. It accomplishes this through nanoscale precision, using chemical elements in different proportions and atomic arrangements than synthetic materials.

Copyright: Frank Starmer / Flickr

Industries:

Advance Materials | Agriculture | Biotechnology | Building Construction | Cement & Concrete | Chemical Manufacturing | Fibers & Filaments | Food Manufacturing | Glass Products | Healthcare | HVAC & Refrigeration | Metal Manufacturing | Oil & Gas | Paint & Adhesives | Plastic Products | Textile & Apparel | Waste Management | Wood Products

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Selected Strategies

Multiscale Structures
The marine Sand Castle Worm constructs elaborate structures with a waterproof adhesive that has inspired surgical glue.

Copyright: kqedquest / Flickr

Many biological materials have impressive levels of tensile strength, hardness, toughness, and other material properties unmatched by many of today’s engineered materials. This is achieved in part through hierarchical ordering of material. At the nanoscale, seashell nacre is composed of calcium carbonate crystals deposited in a protein and carbohydrate matrix. These assemblies then form stacked tiles at the microscale. This multiscalar assembly, visible at the millimeter scale as 3mm thick layers, transforms brittle chalk into a tough ceramic. The structure of nacre has inspired tough, deformable glass.2,33 Similarly, the waterproof adhesives produced by mussels owe their strength and stickiness to hierarchically crosslinked fibers. This attribute inspired the development of several biodegradable adhesives.

Functional Surfaces

Microscopic surface textures and chemical properties imbue biological materials with an astounding array of functions. Lotus leaves have waxy microscopic bumps that allow water to roll off and carry away dirt and particles. This “lotus effect” inspired the self-cleaning paint StoCoat Lotusan®.34 Materials, such as the surface layer of the pitcher plant, wick water into microscopic ridges, creating super slick surfaces.35,36 These concepts inspired anti-fouling surfaces such as SLIPS and superwicking surfaces for indirect evaporative cooling. Similarly, Sharklet™ mimics the scales of sharkskin to repel bacteria.37,38

“Grown” Materials

The ability to grow is an attribute of organisms that produces materials of remarkable complexity and functionality. When given the appropriate scaffolding and nutrients, cells replicate and self-assemble into mats, films, and various other forms. Using “biofabrication,” or biology as a means of production, labs are able to generate valuable materials using relatively little energy. Materials like packaging foam, bricks, meat, and leather are “grown” using bacteria (bioMASON), fungi (Ecovative), and animal tissue cultures (Modern Meadow).

Existing Products

StoCoat Lotusan®
StoCoat Lotusan®

Copyright: StoCorp

When it rains, Nelumbo lotus leaves shed water droplets, dirt, and other particles with the help of micro- and nanoscale surface structures and gravity. This “lotus effect” is created by multiscaled, waxy bumps on the leaf surface that cause water to bead up and roll away.39 Sto Corp., a Georgia-based manufacturer of building materials, duplicated this effect in the StoCoat Lotusan self-cleaning paint. The acrylic paint has a similar microtexture to the lotus leaf; it too sheds water and dirt, leaving a dry, clean surface on which algae and fungi have difficulty colonizing. Unlike exterior paints that become soiled over time, Lotusan’s self-cleaning property makes it a low-maintenance, long-lasting coating for exterior applications.40 

Sharklet™
Sharklet™

Biofouling and antibiotic resistance are major concerns across many sectors, from maritime transportation to healthcare and food service. Sharklet Technologies, a Colorado-based biotechnology company, produces Sharklet™, an engineered microscopic topography inspired by sharkskin that reduces the growth of bacteria without the use of biocides. Like sharkskin, Sharklet surfaces feature a microscopic diamond pattern that prevents bacterial growth by up to 90% without contributing to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Sharklet generated over $1 million in sales in 2012 and is co-developing furniture, medical devices, and consumer products with LG International, Cook Medical, Steelcase, and other companies. Sharklet is also developing urinary catheters that reduce the likelihood of catheter-related bacterial infections, which account for more than $565 million in healthcare costs in the U.S. annually.38 

Mushroom® Materials
Mushroom® Materials

Copyright: mycobond / Flickr

Ecovative, a New York-based materials science company, combines fungal mycelium—the vegetative portion of fungi—and agricultural byproducts to make environmentally-friendly Mushroom® Materials. These compostable materials are alternatives to plastic foam and other petroleum-derived synthetics. The manufacturing process begins by placing agricultural waste and a mycelium culture in a mold. As the mycelium grows, it binds the waste fibers into a solid mass that fills the mold. The mass is then heat-treated to stop the growing process, creating a material ready for use. Comparable in performance and cost to competing technology, Mushroom Materials are currently used as packaging and structural materials and as an environmentally-responsible replacement for engineered wood. Mushroom Materials are a Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Gold product.41 

Biocement™ Bricks
Biocement™ Bricks

Copyright: bioMASON

Due to the energy-intensive firing process, clay bricks account for an estimated 1.2% of the world’s anthropogenic CO2 emissions.44 North Carolina-based biotech startup bioMASON has introduced Biocement™ bricks that are “grown” using bacteria. Combining sand, bacteria, water, nutrients, and nitrogen and calcium sources together in a mold, bioMASON creates bricks that are comparable in strength to traditional bricks. The bacteria cause calcium carbonate to precipitate between sediment grains, effectively cementing the mixture together into a hardened brick.45 This process takes place at ambient temperature using locally-sourced materials and can occur on-site, drastically reducing the carbon emissions and embodied energy of the bricks.46 bioMASON received an SBIR Phase I grant from the National Science Foundation and is currently scaling production capabilities from 1,500 bricks per week while also licensing the technology for use in on-demand manufacturing at construction sites.47 

Products in Development

Mussel-Inspired Adhesive
Mussel-Inspired Adhesive

Copyright: Brocken Inaglory / Wikimedia

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) produce a biodegradable, waterproof adhesive that attaches to almost any surface, even Teflon®. Most manufactured adhesives are not as versatile and contain toxic compounds like formaldehyde. Aided by Terrapin’s competitive analysis services, researchers at the chemical company SyntheZyme are developing a water-resistant adhesive inspired by the mussel. The adhesive is made of proteins with chemically “sticky” ends that crosslink biopolymers into a strong matrix, chemically analogous to the mussel adhesive. It also uses a biological catalyst to achieve a low-energy synthesis. The polymers are renewable, nontoxic, and biodegradable. With the global adhesive and sealant market projected to reach $43 billion by 2020, and with demand increasing for nontoxic adhesives, this product could have a dramatic impact on the market.42 Mussel adhesives have already inspired PureBond®, a commercially successful glue used in wood panel manufacturing.43 

Superwicking Materials
Superwicking Materials

Copyright: titanium22 / Flickr

Conventional vapor-compression air conditioners consume a great deal of energy and rely on refrigerants that are environmentally destructive when released. Terrapin advised Dr. Chunlei Guo’s team at the University of Rochester on the market demand for their bioinspired superwicking material technology and assisted them in securing funds to develop materials for energy-efficient indirect evaporative cooling. Leaves of the plants Ruellia devosiana and Alocasia odora have microscopic surface textures that trap water molecules, causing droplets to spread across the surface.36 Mimicking this superwicking property, the research team fabricated materials with nano- and microscale features that wick large volumes of water, even up vertical surfaces. Such materials will increase the evaporation efficiency of cooling devices and, unlike the porous materials used in conventional evaporative coolers, they resist biofouling. The research team predicts a five-fold decrease in the energy consumed to cool buildings with this novel air conditioner

Deformable Glass
Deformable Glass

Copyright: Andreina Schoeberlein / Flickr

Although composed mainly of chalk, nacre found in seashells has astounding fracture resistance. Researchers at McGill University believe nacre owes its unique properties to a network of microcracks between brittle calcite plates that are filled with sticky polymer. Translating this idea, the team laser-engraved a 3D array of microscopic cracks in glass and filled them with polyurethane. The microcracks inhibit larger cracks from forming by deflecting and dissipating stresses, making this modified glass 200 times tougher than standard glass.48 The researchers believe the polyurethane fill makes little difference; simply engraving microcracks may be enough to toughen brittle materials, which could mean that the carcinogenic polyurethane can be avoided in the future.49 The engraved glass deforms without shattering, making it ideal for windows, electronics, and glassware. The team also believes the same strategy can be applied to other materials that suffer from brittleness, like ceramics.50

Modern Meadow
Modern Meadow

Copyright: Cinnamon Cooper / Flickr

Livestock production accounted for at least 18% of the world’s GHG emissions in 2006.51 It also requires 33% of the world’s arable land and 8% of the world’s water. Using novel tissue engineering techniques, Modern Meadow is producing lab-grown food and materials to make products analogous to—and better than—those produced from animals. Instead of using resources to raise and slaughter, the process takes a culture of cells from an animal and prompts the cells to grow into tissues similar to skin and muscle. Compared to current livestock production, this process could reduce the use of arable land by 99%, water by 96%, and energy by 45%, while emitting 96% less GHG emissions. The production process also avoids the heavy use of antibiotics and the ethical dilemmas associated with current livestock operations. Modern Meadow has successfully produced samples of leather in a variety of colors and thicknesses. The company, currently focused on leather production, envisions leather that is customizable by shape, texture, and breathability.52,53

SLIPS
SLIPS

Inspired by the Nepenthes pitcher plant, researchers at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering developed an extremely slippery surface that repels most liquids and biofilms. The slipperiness of the pitcher-shaped leaf is caused by microscopic surface corrugations that hold water, forming a thin film.35 The researchers adapted this idea, creating a microstructured porous material which holds a specially formulated liquid lubricant. The surface is so slippery that even crude oil and liquid asphalt roll off it. Unlike engineered hydrophobic surfaces, this surface “self-heals” since the lubricant fills scratches as they occur. The porous medium can be applied onto many surfaces. Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS) has many potential applications such as anti-fouling, anti-icing, chemical and fluid handling, corrosion prevention, and pest control.54,55 SLIPS Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2014 to further develop the many commercial applications explored by the researchers while at the Wyss Institute.37

Energy Conversion & Storage

Energy conversion allows us to leverage energy sources for useful work. Whether it is converting stored chemical energy (fossil fuels) to thermal energy or transforming photons (sunlight) to electrical energy, the energy industry hinges on the efficient storage and conversion of energy. In nature, entire ecosystems are structured around variable and limited energy sources, forcing organisms to optimize energy conversion and storage to ensure their survival. Consequently, nature has evolved many energy strategies barely explored by today’s businesses.

Copyright: Drew Bandy/Flickr.

Industries:

Advance Materials | Agriculture | Biotechnology | Building Systems | Chemical Manufacturing | Electronics | Food Manufacturing | HVAC & Refrigeration | Industrial Machinery | Oil & Gas | Paint & Adhesives | Power Generation, Distribution & Storage | Transportation | Utilities | Waste Management | Water Treatment

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Selected Strategies

Distributed Conversion
The Voltaic pile (the first battery), developed by Alessandro Volta in 1799, was inspired by how electric fish store chemical energy and release it as electricity—a priceless invention that transformed our society.59 

Copyright: Razvan Marescu / Flickr

Ecosystems are driven by readily available, distributed, and renewable energy sources. Individual organisms make use of solar, chemical, wind, and gravitational potential energy—all uncentralized sources—to move, sense, migrate, and otherwise accomplish tasks. Maple tree seeds disperse using the wind56; plant roots orient using gravity, which guides root tips downward; living things use the energy flows that surround them. Many businesses have adopted similar strategies, relying on distributed renewable energy sources to power their operations, thus reducing long-term costs. Products inspired by the use of readily-available energy flows include BioPower Systems’ wave- and tide-powered electric generators.

Chemical Storage

Organisms rely on transient, distributed energy sources, which force them to store captured energy in the form of long-lasting chemical fuel. Unlike our current electrical grid that produces energy for immediate consumption, organisms capture energy, store it in chemical bonds, and expend these fuels as needed. As we transition to using transient, renewable energy sources, our energy infrastructure will require a similar storage strategy. In development today, solar fuels produced from artificial photosynthesis could be integrated into our current infrastructure and boast the same beneficial properties of biological fuels.

Fuel Diversity

Most of our cars, engines, and power plants run on a narrow range of fossil fuels. In contrast, animals metabolize a variety of fuel sources such as fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Some microbes consume an even greater range of “fuels,” metabolizing cellulose, iron, sulfur compounds, and ammonia.57,58 Utilizing the mechanisms of microbes, researchers are attempting to modify engines and other power generation devices to consume a greater variety of readily-available, renewable fuels. One example is the Pilus Cell™, which harnesses the metabolic activities of specialized bacteria to break down organic compounds in wastewater, producing electricity, valuable chemicals, and clean water.

Existing Products

bioWAVE™ Power
bioWAVE™ Power

Copyright: BioPower Systems

Ocean waves carry a large amount of energy, but this resource remains largely untapped due to the power delivery and lifespan challenges facing the current generation of wave energy capture devices.60,61 BioPower Systems, an Australia-based renewable energy technology company, addressed these issues by observing how aquatic plants and algae sway in ocean swells without suffering much damage.62 They developed the bioWAVE™ system, which features a unique “frond” structure consisting of three air-filled paddles fixed to a submerged lever that pivots back and forth with the waves, generating electrical power. The self-regulated O-Drive™, a hydraulic power converter in the base, delivers consistent power despite fluctuations in wave intensity. When wave intensity is too high, the paddles automatically fill with fluid, sinking the structure into its “safe” position on the seafloor. A $15 million demonstration project is underway in Port Fairy, Australia to test the 250kW bioWAVE, paving the way for future 1MW commercial installations and wave energy farms.63

μMist® Technology
μMist® Technology

Copyright: robin 24 / Wikimedia

Researchers at University of Leeds and Cornell University have developed the μMist® Platform Technology, a spray system inspired by the defense mechanism of bombardier beetles. Using a unique valve system, the 2 cm/0.78 inch-long beetles are capable of spraying pulses of boiling liquid distances of up to ten times the length of their bodies. The team studied the valve to develop μMist, which can spray small vapor droplets using lower injection pressures than other systems.64,65 The ability to reliably deliver uniformly small droplets of fuel allows internal combustion engines to convert chemical energy to thermal energy more efficiently, resulting in a more efficient combustion cycle and decreased GHG emissions. Swedish Biomimetics 3000, the sole licensee of μMist, has collaborated with Lotus and Cosworth, both U.K.-based automobile companies, to develop new fuel injection systems.66,67 The technology also has applications in personal care, drug delivery, and fire protection.68

Products in Development

Pilus Cell™
Pilus Cell™

The “waste” in wastewater from manufacturing, food processing, and sanitation contains approximately ten times more energy than the amount used to treat it, and wastewater treatment is an energy-intensive process.69 The Pilus Cell™, a microbial fuel cell in development by the Ohio-based synthetic biology company Pilus Energy, generates electricity, clean water, and valuable chemical products from wastewater. Pilus Energy’s technology uses genetically modified bacteria to break down the organic molecules in wastewater, generating molecules such as methane and isoprene. The Pilus Cell has been approved for pilot testing at the EPA Test & Evaluation Facility to demonstrate its potential use in industrial sewage treatment plants.70 Pilus Energy was recently acquired by Tauriga Sciences, a diversified life sciences company.71

Optics & Photonics

Controlling the capture and emission of light is an important function in both organisms and industry. The manipulation of light—known as photonics—includes the generation, detection, absorption, scattering, and processing of light. Illuminating spaces, absorbing sunlight, and transmitting data optically are vital to today’s economy. Innovations in photonics, including those inspired by nature, have allowed companies to create and power many of today’s products. Due to increasing energy costs, the efficiency of these products is critical to their success in the marketplace, to operational costs for consumers, and to the competitiveness of their manufacturers.

Copyright: HorsePunchKid / Flickr

Industries:

Advance Materials | Arts & Entertainment | Building Systems | Electronics | Fibers & Filaments | Glass Products | Health | Lighting | Optics & Imaging | Paints & Adhesives | Power Generation, Distribution & Storage | Telecommunication

See Graph

Selected Strategies

Light Absorption
Iridescence in beetle shells and other materials—an example of structural color—is caused by nanostructures, not pigments, inspiring colorfast paints and materials.

Copyright: Macroscopic Solutions / Flickr

Numerous animals and plants employ materials and nanoscale architectures to ensure that light is absorbed.72,73 They offer blueprints for nanoscale designs to absorb broad or narrow ranges of the light spectrum, important when creating anti-reflective surfaces to increase solar cell efficiencies. Bioinspired nanoscale geometries create anti-reflective surfaces, allowing more light to transition between materials compared to unstructured surfaces.74 A notable application of this strategy is the anti-reflection films that improve light absorption in commercial solar cells. These films mimic the low reflection of moth eyes.

Light Reflection

The reflection of light is important to many technologies aimed at visual signaling and data communication, including traffic signs and road markers, reflective surfaces in spectroscopy equipment, back reflectors on flat screen displays and LEDs, and many important industrial processes. Stacking or concentric layering of materials in organisms often creates reflective surfaces. The iridescent, layered cell architecture of the seeds of the tropical fruit Margaritaria nobilis has inspired a photonic fiber that reflects varying colors when stretched.75 The fiber could be used in a wide range of applications including visual detection of mechanical failure. Additional technologies are being developed using this strategy to create structural color—coloration independent of chemical pigments.

Light Guiding

Light can be guided by a material rather than simply absorbed and reflected. Many commercially available optical devices, such as the IRLens™, are based on how eye structures guide light.76,77 Guiding visible light accurately is particularly crucial to optical chip technologies, which could replace conventional electronic chips for faster data transmission. Certain biomaterials, such as iridescent beetle shells and sea sponges, provide inspiration for novel manufacturing techniques for light guiding devices.78 Although no commercially available photonic products have been realized to date, bioinspired photonic structures will allow light to be manipulated and guided in future optoelectronic devices.

Existing Products

Anti-Reflective Films
Anti-Reflective Films

Copyright: Wei-Lun Min

Nocturnal moths have eyes that absorb a high proportion of light, allowing them to see in very low light conditions. Nanoscale structures in their eyes advantageously direct incident light to increase the insect’s light sensitivity and decrease external reflection visible to predators. One of the specific components responsible for this sensitivity, the “moth-eye” structure, covers the micron-sized facets of the eye and acts as an anti-reflective coating. Nagaoka University researchers emulated this structure to develop moth-eye films for existing solar arrays, and researchers in the U.S. have developed manufacturing techniques to incorporate moth-eye nanostructures during solar cell production.79,80 Researchers have shown that anti-reflective moth-eye films increase the conversion of incident photons to usable electricity by 5-10%, a welcome improvement for any solar cell technology.81,82

IRLens™
IRLens™

Photo courtesy: NASA and Roger Johnson

Heating only essential spaces, rather than an entire room, enables facilities to reduce their energy demand. The IRLens in HotZone® radiant heaters uses the same principle seen in the eyes of lobsters, crayfish, and shrimp—focusing light on specific areas—to direct infrared light. After being commercialized into a $1 million business, the technology was licensed to Schaefer Ventilation. Energy costs can be reduced by 50% or more thanks to the device’s bioinspired lens. The HotZone heater is able to double the efficiency of conventional spot heating technology, delivering 85% of the source energy to the area requiring heating.76,83,84

Products in Development

IR Light Sensor
IR Light Sensor

Copyright: TexasEagle / Flickr

The wings of Morpho butterflies produce vibrant, iridescent colors when light interacts with the nano- and microscale architecture of their wings. The wings are comprised of scales made of chitin—an abundant biopolymer—and each scale supports an array of minute parallel ridges. A cross-section of each individual ridge shows a branched, periodic nanoscale structure. GE Global Research has determined that the scales have an optical response to changes in thermal energy. Absorption of IR photons and a subsequent conversion to thermal energy by the chitin results in an expansion of the nanostructure; this physical change results in an observable change in the wing’s iridescence. The speed and sensitivity with which the wing scales react to IR photons were previously unattainable in manufactured thermal sensors. New thermal sensors based on the nanostructure of Morpho wings are being developed to improve not only response speed and thermal sensitivity but also to reduce their pixel size.85 Continued research of photonic structures in nature may spur a new generation of sensor technologies.

Thermoregulation

Introducing, removing, or excluding thermal energy is required for many products and systems such as adding or ventilating heat from buildings, manufacturing consumer products, and operating industrial machinery. How these flows and fluctuations of heat are managed often determines the efficiency of a design, and thermoregulation can be costly to manufacturers and consumers. Many organisms have developed replicable, low-energy strategies to maintain constant body temperatures despite temperature fluctuations in their environment, while others have developed methods to function despite extreme temperatures.

Copyright: smshubert6 / Flickr

Industries:

Advance Materials | Biotechnology | Building Systems | Fibers & Filaments | Food Manufacturing | Glass Products | Healthcare | HVAC & Refrigeration | Industrial Machinery | Lighting | Pharmaceuticals | Plastic Products | Textiles & Apparel | Warehouses & Distribution

See Graph

Selected Strategies

Heat Exchangers
Tardigrades, or water bears, can undergo extreme desiccation (anhydrobiosis) by preserving tissues in a sugar glass, inspiring biological material stabilization technologies.

Copyright: darronb / Flickr.

The surface area to volume ratio of an organism is calibrated to its habitat. Plants and animals in hot climates typically have large surface areas relative to their volume, while cold climates feature organisms with relatively small surface areas. In addition, organisms contain branching webs of veins and other fluid-containing channels to exchange heat with their surroundings.86 These two strategies suggest ways of tailoring convective heat transfer in buildings, manufacturing processes, and advanced machinery. Harbec is incorporating internal cooling channels in their injection molds, mimicking vascular systems to remove thermal energy more effectively.

Antifreeze Mechanisms

Plants, animals, and microorganisms survive freezing temperatures using a range of remarkable strategies.87 Antifreeze molecules found in organisms like arctic fish, beetles, yeast, and bacteria inhibit ice crystal growth by binding to ice crystals before they expand and aggregate.87-89 These molecules are of great interest to companies such as fuel cell manufacturers that want to prevent liquid fuel from freezing and food manufactures like Unilever, which uses an antifreeze protein to create creamier ice cream.90

Thermal Stability

To survive elevated temperatures and extreme dryness, certain organisms chemically stabilize their proteins and tissues. Microorganisms that thrive at high temperatures feature enzymes that function up to 110°C/230°F. These enzymes were instrumental in the development of the revolutionary genetic analysis technique known as PCR.91,92 Organisms, such as the tardigrade, are capable of withstanding not only high temperatures but also desiccation. This inspired the development of dry vaccines and biological preservation technologies commercialized by Nova Laboratories and Biomatrica.93,94 Cold storage is unnecessary due to the products’ ability to maintain the integrity of thermally-sensitive chemical compounds, reducing shipping and storage costs.

Existing Products

HydRIS® Dry Vaccines
HydRIS® Dry Vaccines

Copyright: Nova Laboratories

Nova Laboratories mimicked the extreme desiccation abilities of certain organisms to develop “dry” vaccines. Standard vaccines contain biological material that must be refrigerated, requiring energy intensive supply chains (known as “cold chains”) that keep the vaccines at low temperatures from manufacture to administration.95 Nova’s dry vaccine platform technology (known as HydRIS®) preserves the vaccine material in a dry, sugar glass matrix for transport. The vaccines are rehydrated just before administration to the patient. This platform technology creates chemically and physically stable vaccines while withstanding temperatures of 0-50°C/32-122°F without compromising potency, saving on energy and transportation costs and allowing vaccines to be transported to remote areas.96

Unilever Ice Cream
Unilever Ice Cream

Copyright: nickharris1 / Flickr

Ice cream—a $60 billion market in 2013—requires considerable energy throughout its refrigerated supply chain.97 The texture of ice cream is dictated by the small size and regularity of its ice crystals. If ice cream thaws and refreezes, ice crystals grow and accumulate, decreasing the quality of the product. In developing economies, however, refrigeration is not always available. Recently, product manufacturer Unilever introduced an ice structuring protein first identified in arctic fish to prevent the growth of ice crystals.98 Approved by the U.S. FDA and its counterparts in the European Union and Australia, this ingredient allows ice cream products to undergo freeze-thaw cycles with minimal crystal growth, ensuring a high quality product reaches consumers even over imperfect supply chains in warm climates.99

Injection Molding
Injection Molding

Copyright: slobirdr / Flickr

The manufacture of injection molded plastic parts involves both the introduction of high thermal energy and its removal. Cooling fluids are used to extract the supplied heat from each part, creating an energy-intensive process. New York-based plastics manufacturer HARBEC tapped Terrapin’s network of biomimicry experts and built a multidisciplinary design and engineering team with Dr. Jiandi Wan of RIT and Dr. Abraham Stroock of Cornell University. Applying a biomimetic approach to the redesign of the metal molds, the team looked at natural systems that are effective at dissipating heat, such as arteries in the depths of mammalian brains, webs of vessels embedded in large ears and leaves, and channels in termite mounds and the human lung. The new molds mimic dicot leaves and feature webs of cooling passages rather than the simple, straight cooling channels found in conventional molds. The bioinspired molds allowed HARBEC to reduce cooling times and energy consumption by more than 20% compared to conventional molds. Read more about this project in Terrapin’s case study.

Fluid Dynamics

Fluid dynamics describes how liquids and gases move and aims to limit the effects of drag. Every object in motion encounters the momentum-sapping effects of friction and drag from surrounding fluids. Modern society uses excessive amounts of energy to overcome these effects in many industries. From single cells to humpback whales, organisms move fluids—and move through them—using minimal energy. Studying their movements helps improve the energy profile of companies in industries such as utilities, warehouse and distributions, manufacturing, and transportation.

Copyright: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / Flickr

Industries:

Building Construction | Building Systems | Cement & Concrete | Chemical Manufacturing | Data Centers | Electronics | Food Manufacturing | HVAC & Refrigeration | Industrial Machinery | Mining | Oil & Gas | Power Generation, Distribution & Storage | Textiles & Apparel | Transportation | Utilities | Water Treatment

See Graph

Selected Strategies

Vortical Flows
According to a research team at California Institute of Technology, jellyfish-inspired pulsed jet propulsion could be 50% more efficient than existing steady jet propulsion.102 

Copyright: michiexile / Flickr

Vehicles, structures, and industrial equipment such as pipes, ducts, engines, and turbines are often streamlined to create idealized laminar flow but suffer energetic losses or mechanical failure when these flow patterns break down. Animals and other organisms leverage idealized vortical flows such as spiraling eddies. By exploiting or even creating vortices instead of trying to avoid them, flocking birds, swarming insects, schooling fish, and the human heart are able to move through fluid and move fluid with minimal energy expenditure.100 Companies, such as PAX Scientific, are using these insights to provide new, low-energy processes and increased power production.

Constructal Theory

Fluid flow in nature always follows the most efficient path. This phenomenon can be described by constructal theory—the study of how living and nonliving systems in nature optimize flow systems.101 The flow of air in human lungs, nutrients in leaves, and water in river deltas follows this principle, balancing various “flow resistances” to create systems that minimize expended energy. Flow resistances are any aspect of the system that interact with the fluid’s movement; optimizing these simultaneously will result in designs with superior performance. Harbec is using constructal theory in the design of their injection molds, mimicking vascular systems to move coolant, and thus thermal energy, more effectively.

Existing Products

Lily Impeller
Lily Impeller

CopyrightL PAX Scientific

Fans, mixers, pumps, and propellers all aim to move fluid—air, water, and the like—using as little energy as possible. The Lily Impeller designed by PAX Scientific, a California-based technology firm, creates spiraling flows to move fluid. The same strategy—using vortices—is employed by birds in flight and schools of fish.100 The importance of this spiraling design is that it allows fluid to flow with reduced friction, minimizing the energy needed to move material from one point to another. PAX’s technologies are tailored for specific industries, offering reduced energy inputs, reduced operating noise, and efficient mixing over conventional technology. PAX Water—aimed at water and wastewater treatment—can effectively circulate 10 million gallons of water using the same power as three 100 watt light bulbs. This is much less power than conventional technology requires and has been installed at 1,000 sites.103 PAX Mixer technologies—focused on industries where fluid mixing is critical—are able to reduce required energy inputs, capital costs, and mixing time, while increasing product yields.104

Tubercle Technology™
Tubercle Technology™

Copyright: EnviraNorth

Commercialized by Toronto-based WhalePower, Tubercle Technology™ emulates the vortex-forming bumps on humpback whale fins. The small vortices created by whales’ tubercles delay stalling effects, permitting a 40% increase in the angle of attack before flow separation occurs and reducing drag by 30%.100,105 Envira-North Systems has partnered with WhalePower to use this technology in high-volume, low-speed ceiling fans. Compared to conventional fans, these tubercle-enabled fans reduce power consumption by 20% and reduce operating noise.106 WhalePower is also commercializing their technology for the wind energy industry, providing reductions in both turbine noise and mechanical fatigue.

Products in Development

Wind Farms
Wind Farms

Copyright: John Dabiri

Unlike horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs), which are costly to purchase, install, and maintain, and require large expanses of land, vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) offer closer spacing, omnidirectional operation, and lower capital and maintenance costs. Dr. John Dabiri at CalTech has patented a bioinspired design for VAWT farms. Informed by the vortices of schooling fish, Dr. Dabiri has shown that counter-rotating, closely-spaced turbines minimize the negative effects of turbulence in VAWT farms. Though VAWT farms produce less power output overall, the spatial arrangements recommended by Dabiri result in wind farm power densities that are ten times higher than HAWT farms (30 W/m2 compared to 3 W/m2), decreasing a system’s footprint and enabling medium and large sized VAWT installations to be more readily adopted.107 Dabiri’s designs have been implemented at an existing wind farm to improve power density and in Igiugig, Alaska, to provide high power output in this remote village.108 This innovative approach yields reductions in cost, wind farm size, and environmental impacts.

Data & Computing

Data is a signal. Information is the meaning of the signal, and knowledge is the recognition of patterns in that meaning. Intelligence—the ability to turn data into knowledge—has not been achieved in conventional computing. Computers can calculate numerically but cannot learn or handle complex situations like living organisms do. Even human intelligence cannot match the continual design optimization of biological evolution. Many developers recognize the limits of conventional data handling and have mimicked nature to create novel sensors, computing architectures, software, autonomous robots, and other intelligent designs.

Copyright: Zeiss Microscopy / Flickr

Industries:

Biotechnology | Building Construction | Building Systems | Data Centers | Electronics | Financial Services | Healthcare | HVAC & Refrigeration | Industrial Machinery | Optics & Imaging | Power Generation, Distribution & Storage | Software | Telecommunication | Transportation | Utilities | Warehouse & Distribution

See Graph

Selected Strategies

Sensing and Signaling
Brains consume vastly less power for their processing capacity than computers do: The world’s most powerful supercomputer, the Tianhe-2, can process over 15 times faster than a human brain, but it consumes roughly 890,000 times more power.111,114

Copyright: EUSKALANATO / Flickr

Many species rapidly assess environments with remarkable sensing and signaling mechanisms. Compound insect eyes, which perceive movement faster than traditional cameras, have inspired vision sensors for aerial systems and robotics.77 Swarming bees, birds, ants, and bacteria signal to one another to coordinate movement, food gathering, and danger avoidance, forming a collective intelligence. Swarm intelligence, inspired by this signaling, has enabled companies like Encycle, Southwest Airlines, and Air Liquide to efficiently resolve complex problem.109,110

Data Storage

Just as computers and server farms store data, organisms store and retrieve (i.e. remember) data relating to food, predators, and habitats. Accordingly, biological brains have very dense storage capabilities. Though brains and computers store data very differently, the human brain can store approximately 3.5 million gigabytes, roughly 55,000 times more than a 64 gigabyte iPad.111 Additionally, all life requires heritable instructions (data-dense DNA) to direct growth and development. Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute coded 700 terabytes of data into 1 gram of DNA, prompting interest in DNA as a storage medium. The team believes that with improvements, all the data in the world (nearly 1.8 billion terabytes) could theoretically be stored in about 4 grams of DNA.112

Intelligence

Nature achieves intelligence in ways unrealized by today’s computing, such as the brain’s ability to learn and respond, the collective task coordination of cells and immune systems, and the optimization of evolution.113 Bioinspired computing is becoming essential to modern computing; artificial neural nets, such as IBM’s SyNAPSE chip—based on neuron organization in brains—can process in parallel and learn. Artificial immune systems mimic the dynamics of immune systems, improving computer security, fault detection, and machine learning. Evolutionary algorithms used in software, such as Optistruct®, are based on the principles of evolution: they generate optimal solutions from a field of iterations, saving design time, and improving functionality.109

Existing Products

Swarm Logic
Swarm Logic

Copyright: Encycle

Electricity used during peak periods of demand can account for 20-50% of a facility’s electric bill due to the use of “peaker” power plants by utilities to meet demand. Technology developer Encycle created a building management system that mimics the communication system of bee colonies; each piece of equipment simultaneously senses and communicates with one another without using top-down management to minimize power consumption. Their Swarm Logic™ controllers reduce peak demand by roughly 25% and the overall energy consumption of buildings by 15-30%.115 Installed on each HVAC unit or other discretionary electrical load, the devices communicate with each other wirelessly, each deciding whether to switch its unit on or off depending on the cycles of other units. This coordination ensures that the fewest possible units are running at any given time without compromising occupant comfort.116 Encycle’s technology is used by warehouses, libraries, offices, food processing plants, and light industrial centers.117

OptiStruct® Software
OptiStruct® Software

Copyright: Altair

Altair, a Michigan-based technology company, uses the principles of evolution in their OptiStruct software, which was created to help customers optimize the weight and strength of a design. In addition to using evolutionary algorithms to analyze mechanical stresses in a design, the software mimics the logic underlying the way bones thicken in response to stress. OptiStruct’s evolutionary algorithm rapidly tests a wide range of possible iterations to find the optimal balance between weight, strength, and ease of manufacturing. The resulting structure is material-efficient and lightweight and requires far less human design time to produce.118 OptiStruct has aided organizations like Honeywell, Boeing, The Scripps Research Institute, Unilever, Alfa Romeo, SOM, Lockheed Martin, and Hitachi.119 In one case, OptiStruct reduced the total weight of an Airbus design by 20%.120

Products in Development

IBM SyNAPSE Chip
IBM SyNAPSE Chip

Copyright: IBM Research

The postage stamp-sized SyNAPSE chip, under development by IBM and Cornell Tech, performs 46 billion synaptic operations per second using only 1 watt. The neural network-inspired chip marks a major step towards the project’s ultimate goal of building a 10 billion neuron, 100 trillion synapse chip that fits into a 2 liter volume and consumes only 4 kW. The current chip has significant advantages over conventional chips: each core only operates when needed, allowing it to run on the equivalent of a hearing-aid battery, and the distributed cores process independently, which improves performance. This low-power chip could advance cloud computing, home health monitoring, vision aids for the blind, and other multi-sensory data processing. IBM ultimately hopes to combine the sensory processing capacity of the SyNAPSE chip with existing computing architectures that excel at analytical processing.121,122

Systems

An ecosystem is a complex, intricate system that processes materials, energy, and information, often cycling these constituents within and between subsystems. Through evolution, nature creates flourishing ecosystems that optimize material and energy use. A valuable characteristic of ecosystems is that they operate from nano- to macroscales, allowing materials and energy to be reused and transferred across scales. Intentionally mimicking these key characteristics and harmoniously connecting society’s industrial processes, building operations, and urban infrastructure to natural systems offers a path to a prosperous and resilient future for our society.

Copyright: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / Flickr

Industries:

Agriculture | Building Construction | Building Systems | Data Systems | Financial Services | Food Manufacturing | Healthcare | HVAC & Refrigeration | Oil & Gas | Power Generation, Distribution & Storage | Software | Telecommunication | Transportation | Utilities | Warehouses & Distribution | Waste Management | Water Treatment

See Graph

Selected Strategies

Cyclic Flows
Constructed wetlands mimic wetland ecosystems by removing nutrients from wastewater.

Copyright: Kim Seng / Flickr

The concept of waste does not exist in nature. In an ecosystem, resources discarded by one organism or community are harnessed by another, establishing symbiotic, cyclic flows. This occurs from the cellular scale (e.g., bacteria) to the macroscale (e.g., forests) and can create countless niches for growth. In comparison, human systems typically generate large amounts of waste. However, industrial by-products can be minimized by forming an industrial symbiosis—exchanging waste materials and energy as valued commodities between industries. Similar to biological symbiosis, individual companies benefit from shared services and the exchange of resources in the resulting system, increasing profits and dramatically reducing environmental impacts.

Interdependence

Ecosystems provide a wealth of inspiration for systems thinking. They also influence and integrate with our human-constructed systems. Viewing humans and nature as interconnected parts of a larger system allows us to evaluate how industrial processes, agriculture, buildings, and cities function in relation to our relatively frugal and efficient counterparts in nature. To evaluate the efficacy of projects in the built environment, Terrapin is developing the Phoebe Framework.

Emergence

In a phenomenon known as emergence, complex systems have patterns and qualities that arise from the interactions among smaller components. Ecosystems exhibit many emergent properties, such as self-organization and adaptation, which can be incorporated into our engineered systems to address changing cultural, technical, and societal issues. Ecosystem services are another example of emergence, providing us with “services” such as food, water, fuel, disease control, and recreation. To continue to benefit from these services, human systems can look to restoration ecology, the Phoebe Framework, and other efforts to support the systems that produce them.

Existing Products

Kalundborg Symbiosis
Kalundborg Symbiosis

The industrial park of Kalundborg, Denmark, boasts a successful industrial symbiosis. Adjacent industrial facilities exchange resources and energy by-products so that one plant’s waste becomes a feedstock for others. The sophisticated system currently includes a power plant, oil refinery, gypsum board manufacturer, biofuel producer, pharmaceutical manufacturer, fish and pig farms, fertilizer companies, cement companies, and the largest wastewater treatment plant in northern Europe, among other businesses. Some of the resources exchanged include fly ash, water, gas, fertilizer, and heat. Each year, Kalundborg’s system avoids the emission of 240,000 tons of CO2 and the use of 800 million gallons of water, saving an estimated $15 million. The Kalundborg Symbiosis organization aims to attract more industrial partners who are seeking to reduce their environmental impact and increase their profit margins.123,124

Eco-Machine®
Eco-Machine®

John Todd Ecological Design creates cost-effective wastewater treatment systems that harness the digestion and filtration functions of wetland ecosystems without using hazardous chemicals. Eco-Machine® systems consist of a series of tanks and water gardens housed in greenhouses or in constructed wetlands. Wastewater is filtered and polished by aquatic beds or constructed wetlands. The system contains all the major agents (bacteria, algae, snails, fungi, plants, fish, clams, etc.) of a wetland ecosystem. The Eco-Machines vary based on a project’s climate, land area, and daily volume of wastewater.125 An Eco-Machine installed at the Ethel M. Chocolates facility in Nevada treats all of its industrial wastewater (~32,000 gallons daily) and uses the filtered water to irrigate landscaping, eliminating the facility’s municipal discharge fees while conserving water. The system is less expensive to build and operate than conventional treatment systems.126

Products in Development

Phoebe Framework
Phoebe Framework

Copyright: Graham Ballantyne / Flickr

The Framework for an Ecological Built Environment (“Phoebe Framework” or “Phoebe”) is a suite of tools in development at Terrapin that uses ecosystem-based assessment to guide sustainable and resilient development of buildings and communities. Phoebe merges sustainable design with environmental planning, industrial ecology, and restoration ecology, evaluating a site within its larger ecological context. Phoebe has three primary goals: connect humans to natural systems; establish ecological functions and processes on-site, aligning the built environment to regional ecosystems; and integrate larger ecosystem impacts into planning and decision making. Phoebe’s advantage is that it does not adhere to universal metrics but crafts solutions tailored to a site’s challenges. Using Phoebe restores local ecosystems, reduces a site’s environmental impact and provides building owners and operators with opportunities to save money through risk mitigation, reduced resource consumption, and improved health and productivity.

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Image References

Cover and Back Cover
Images courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr.

Introduction
Honeybee photo copyright Umberto Salvagnin/Flickr.
Coral reef photo copyright USFWS Pacific Region/Flickr.

Carbon
Cover photo copyright Stanley Sagov/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright Steve Jurvetson/Flickr.
Blue Planet photo copyright Washington State Dept of Transportation/Flickr.
Converge Polyols photo copyright Novomer/Flickr.
Solar Fuels copyright alonzo petrovich/Flickr.

Water
Cover photo copyright Heather/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright Manuel M. Ramos/Flickr.
Aquaporin Inside photo copyright WaterWorld.
Seawater Greenhouse photo copyright Seawater Greenhouse.
Termite Humidity Sponge courtesy of Scott Turner.

Materials
Cover photo copyright Frank Starmer/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright kqedquest/Flickr.
Sto Coat Lotusan photo copyright StoCorp.
Sharklet photo copyright Sharklet Technologies.
Mushroom Materials photo copyright mycobond/Flickr.
Biocement Bricks photo copyright bioMASON.
Deformable Glass photo copyright Andreina Schoeberlein/Flickr.
Modern Meadow Leather photo copyright Cinnamon Cooper/Flickr.
Mussel Adhesive photo copyright Brocken Inaglory/Wikimedia.
SLIPS Technologies photo copyright SLIPS Technologies.
Superwicking Materials photo copyright titanium22/Flickr.

Energy Conversion & Storage
Cover photo copyright Drew Bandy/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright Razvan Marescu/Flickr.
bioWAVE photo copyright BioPower Systems.
µMist Platform Technology photo copyright robin 24/Wikimedia.
Pilus Cell photo copyright Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/Flickr.

Optics & Photonics
Cover photo copyright HorsePunchKid/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright Macroscopic Solutions/Flickr.
Anti-reflective photo copyright Wei-Lun Min.
IRLens photos courtesy NASA and Roger Johnson.
IR Light sensor photo copyright TexasEagle/Flickr.

Thermoregulation
Cover photo copyright smshubert6/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright darronb/Flickr.
Hydris photo copyright Nova Laboratories.
Unilever photo copyright nickharris1/Flickr.
Injection molding photo copyright slobirdr/Flickr.

Fluid Dynamics
Cover photo copyright NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright michiexile/Flickr.
Lily impeller photo copyright PAX Scientific.
Tubercule photo copyright EnviraNorth.
Wind farm photo copyright John Dabiri.

Data & Computing
Cover photo copyright Zeiss Microscopy/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright Zeiss Microscopy/Flickr.
Energy management photo copyright Encycle.
Optistruct photo copyright Altair Engineering/Aarhus School of Architecture.
IBM SyNAPSE photo copyright IBM Research/Flickr.

Systems
Cover photo copyright NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr.
Strategy photo copyright Kim Seng/Flickr.
Eco-Machine photo copyright John Todd Ecological Design.
Kalundborg photo copyright Kalundborg Symbiosis.
Phoebe photo copyright Graham Ballantyne/Flickr.