Photo courtesy of DaimlerChrysler The design of the Bionic concept car was inspired by the body structure of the boxfish (above).

But Grimshaw is far from the only place where nature is inspiring design, in fact this process has spawned a whole field called biomimetics. Even DaimlerChrysler, a huge automotive company, has recently designed a new concept car based on the shape and lightweight body structure of the boxfish. Again, the solution that this design seems to provide is an energy-saving and aerodynamic construction - which the boxfish has already mastered.

Biomimetics is becoming so popular that Dr Julian Vincent, the director of the Centre for Biomimetic and Natural Technologies at the University of Bath in the U.K., has created a database of biological "patents" that engineers can access if they want to research how nature has dealt with a problem they are trying to solve. By searching the database with a keyword like 'propulsion', a person can access information about the propulsion mechanisms used by different animals, for example jellyfish, frogs or flying squirrels. Although the database is still in the works, it currently contains over 2,500 "patents" that engineers can work with.

So for those of you with creative energy flowing through your veins, it could be a good place to start - that or taking a closer look at your environment. If Swiss engineer George de Mestral hadn't examined how burrs kept attaching themselves to his dog's fur, then we would all still be tying our shoelaces. Yes, I know: most of you probably are, but I'm a fan of Velcro and the carefree 80's.

For more info:

University of Bath - Biomimetics
http://www.bath.ac.uk/mech-eng/biomimetics/about.htm

The Guardian - Engineers race to steal nature's secrets
http://environment.guardian.co.uk/energy/story/0,,1860250,00.html