Photo courtesy of Grimshaw Look familiar? The structure of sycamore seeds inspired the design of this 10MW aerogenerator turbine. (Developed by Wind Power Limited, architectural design by Grimshaw)

Next time you are thinking of crushing a beetle, perhaps you should admire it instead. Beetles, flies, fish and even sycamore seeds are proving to be inspirational to engineers and scientists trying to come up with new and efficient designs. Although humans are great at coming up with innovative ways of solving problems, often nature has already done the work through billions of years of evolution and natural selection to help species survive in a variety of conditions.

Grimshaw is an international architecture firm that is working on some major infrastructure projects that are not only inspired by nature but will also help preserve it. One of their creations is an aero-generator turbine - a wind turbine that looks a lot like a sycamore seed but with propellers that can each be as tall as the Eiffel tower. Currently being tested in the lab in preparation for trials next year, these turbines are designed to be rigged up in the ocean and can produce up to 20 megawatts of electricity - almost five times as much as existing wind turbines.

Another project involves designing a desalination plant that is easy on the eyes and doesn't consume huge amounts of energy. These are essential in countries that experience water shortages since they provide a way of removing salt from seawater to obtain usable freshwater.

Designer Charlie Paton came up with an innovative design by studying the Namibian fog-basking beetle. The shells of these insects act as a condensing surface for moisture, allowing them to survive in harsh desert climates. Based on this mechanism, Paton created a structure made of glass and steel that uses evaporators, condensers and a minimal amount of energy to extract freshwater.