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Many animals have a knack for doing amazing things: They can soar through the air, climb up walls, and swim superfast. Their awesome abilities have inspired scientists to create inventions that copy their every move. Read on to see how scientists look to the wild for some “wild” ideas.

KING OF CLING
Geckos can climb up walls, scurry across ceilings, and hang from glass Windows by a single toe. What keeps these lizards from hitting the pavement? It has a lot to do with the millions of microscopic hairs called setae (SEH-tay) that line the soles of their feet.

The tip of each hair is shaped like a tiny spatula. This shape allows the hairs to get super close to the surface. When this happens, molecules on the gecko’s feet and molecules on the surface become attracted to each other. This allows the gecko to stick.

Scientists at the University of Manchester in England created a tape as sticky as a gecko’s foot. The tape has tiny plastic pegs that work just like the gecko’s setae. The scientists hope that the tape may be used for lots of things, like helping window cleaners stick to surfaces.

SLITHERING SCIENCE
Snakes can climb trees and creep through the tightest spots. They do so with the help of rectangular scales that cover their bellies. These scales are a lot like tire treads, which allow cars to grip surfaces without slipping and sliding. As the snake’s scales move across a surface, they produce a sticking force called friction. Once the snake is firmly planted, it can propel itself forward.

A team of scientists at the University of Michigan copied the snake’s movements to create a robot called the OmniTread. This high-tech machine has treads along its body that help it to move. According to research professor Johann Borenstein, “The OmniTread is a useful tool that will get into places that humans and other robots cannot.” Borenstein and his team hope the robot will be used to search for humans trapped in dangerous areas, such as collapsed buildings and caves.

SWIFT SWIMMERS
Dolphins are one of the ocean’s fastest swimmers. Traveling at bursts of 35 kilometers (22 miles) per hour, these marine animals can outrace even some motorboats. What’s the secret to their speediness? It has a lot to do with the shape of their body and the texture of their skin.

As a creature swims, water flows over every part of its body. This produces a force called drag, which slows the creature down. But a dolphin is built to overcome drag: It has a torpedo-shaped body with few limbs, so there is little surface for the water to flow over. In addition, water glides easily over the dolphin’s smooth and hairless skin.

Dolphins’ swimming ability has fascinated many people, including inventor Thomas A. Rowe. “I came up with a design for a submersible by studying the way dolphins are built,” says Rowe. The submersible, called the Bionic Dolphin, has a smooth exterior and is torpedo-shaped — just like its real-life pal. Its features allow it to cruise up to 48 kilometers (30 miles) per hour. Rowe hopes his underwater dolphin vehicle will one day help people explore the seas quickly and safely.

FEATHERY FLIGHT
Birds that hunt at night have to be very quiet. It helps them to listen for and sneak up on food. But keeping silent is not easy. As birds fly, irregular streams of air called turbulence flow over their wings. This causes a gushing sound. Night owls, however, don’t have this problem. They are nature’s most silent fliers — and they owe it all to their special feather design.

Unlike most birds, night owls have frayed feathers on the edges of their wings. These special feathers work to break up turbulence — and as a result, reduce sound. Velvety feathers on their legs and other parts of their wings also work to muffle the sound of the animals’ movement.

Scientists at the University of Southampton in England hope to copy the owl’s feather design and use it to create aircraft that’s a lot quieter. Ideas in the works include a frayed fringe for an airplane’s wings, and a velvety coating on its landing gear.

Words to Know
Molecule — a particle of two or more atoms (the basic building blocks of matter) joined together

Friction — a sticking force

Drag — a resisting force that slows an object

Submersible — an underwater vehicle

Turbulence — irregular streams of air

quick quiz
What is the hair that helps geckos stick to surfaces called?
• A. setae
• B. spatula
• C. molecule
• D. satae
What force is produced by the scales of a slithering snake?
• A. turbulence
• B. drag
• C. friction
• D. All of the above
What type of vehicle is the Bionic Dolphin?

A. a motorboat
B. a submersible
C. a jet ski
D. a sailboat

 
THINK ABOUT IT: Suppose you were to design an animal-inspired invention. After which animal would you choose to model your invention? How would your invention copy this animal?
 

By: Prokos, Anna, Scholastic SuperScience, Jan2006