technology from nature

Our Invention	or	nature?
Camera (lens, focus, iris, film)		Eye (cornea curves to focus, iris, retina)
Microphone		Ear drum
Amphitheatre shape		Outer ear shape
Pump		Heart
Valves		Heart valves
Plumbing and hydraulic systems		Circulatory system
Communication / telephone cables		Spinal cord / nervous system
Ball joint		Shoulder joint
Windshield wiper		Eye lid
Wiper fluid		Tears
Knife		Incisor teeth
Mortar and pestle		Molar teeth
Woodwinds		Voice box
Computer / Electronic circuitry		Brain
Computer program		DNA
Bubble level		Inner ear tubes for balance
Construction crane (jointed arm, scoop)		Arm and hand
Honeycomb reinforcements		Bee's honeycomb
Solar panel (energy from light)		Leaf
Fish hook (reverse barb design)		Bee stinger
Light stick (light from chemical reactions)		Firefly, glowworm, deep sea creatures
Airplanes (airfoil wings, hollow struts, tail)		Birds (airfoil wings, hollow bones, tail)
Submarine ballast		Fish (ballast bladder)
Sonar		Bats, dolphins
Paper from wood pulp		Wasp hives
Velcro		Thistle burrs (actually inspired Velcro)
Blu-blocker sunglasses		Orange oil in eagle eyes to improve acuity
Suction cups		Octopus
Inboard propulsion (boats)		Squid
Batteries (electricity from chemicals)		Eel
Navigation by stars / magnetic fields		Bird and butterfly migration
Music		Song birds
Anesthetics		Venoms and poisons
Swim fins, paddles		Webbed feet (frogs, ducks)
Water cooled systems		Sweat glands and perspiration
Core aeration for health of lawns		Worms, insects and moles