July 3, 2025

Jessica A. Dennehy

11th Grade

Williamsville East High School

Biomimicry (noun): The imitation of natural biological designs or processes in engineering or invention.

Introduction

Modern innovations stand on the shoulders of giants, being constantly built upon the ideas of their predecessors, with every advancement a continuation of what came before it. But these predecessors aren’t always human-made. In fact, many of the technologies we now take for granted were inspired by nature. From the complex engineering behind animal-made structures to the application of certain species’ physical anatomy into technology, modern engineering has increasingly drawn from the natural world.

Beaver Dams and BDAs

Beavers build dams, or barricades that form deep ponds of water, to deter predation within their dome lodges, small protective islands constructed within their dams to store food and serve as a dry living space. Due to dam construction, beavers are also able to dig underwater entrances into their lodge, allowing for various emergency exits if their lodge is breached. Not all beavers will construct dams, with that decision mostly hinging on the local water level of their building site. In freshwater habitats, if water depth is already sufficient or there are wide watercourses present, beavers are not actually physically capable of building a dam due to the fact that construction techniques hinge on using both natural and artificial features in their territory. These may include fallen trees, large rocks, culverts, or narrowing a channel—both the placement and building of a dam depend on the hydrology of the site. However, the technique of dam construction is near universal: first, a beaver will deposit a base layer of mud, stones, and vegetation, utilizing this as their dam’s foundation. Then progressively larger stickers are placed on the structure, always pointing upstream, and then progressively being further weighted down with additional mud and stones. Lastly, vegetation and mud will be used as a “plug,” wedged in any remaining gaps of the structure in order to hold the water level to sufficient levels.

The benefit of dam construction goes well beyond the beaver; however, the creation of the new wetland resulting from a dam provides new habitat for a variety of plant and invertebrate species. Accordingly, breeding, foraging, and shelter opportunities increase for birds, bats, mammals, and amphibians, allowing for biodiversity to flourish. Additionally, with dam construction, river systems become more resilient to droughts and flooding downstream due to the conservation of water in the reservoir. This ecological benefit, research has found, even helps to reduce wildfire spread, providing a refuge for impacted wildlife.

The benefits reaped through the natural construction of beaver dams have begun being applied on a human level. Beaver-based restoration—an effective method of restoring wetlands and retaining water—incorporates a mimicry structure of a beaver dam, called a beaver dam analogue, or BDA, in order to prevent an area from burning while protecting its water quality. These man-made structures, constructed only with wooden fence posts and willows, are a low-cost and low-maintenance method that quickly acts to combat these issues in historically wetland and floodplain areas. Although this method of wildfire prevention is still emerging, successful examples can be found in the Tulalip Tribe in Washington State and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado.

Termite Hills and Passive Air Conditioning

Termite colonies build their mounds to include a natural ventilation system. This allows for the internal temperature of the mound to remain relatively stable, even when the outside temperature fluctuates drastically. This phenomenon occurs due to the colony's superb engineering skills, with the mound containing a network of porous tunnels and chambers that facilitate airflow. Warm air leaves the structure through a central chimney, escaping into the surroundings, while cooler air is drawn in through the porous clay walls. This passive ventilation system allows for the interior of the mound to have a stable temperature, ensuring the growth of the fungus termites depend on for food, along with the survival of the colony.

The Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, was modeled after this and uses a passive cooling system inspired by termite mounds. Instead of depending upon conventional air conditioning, the building is able to passively regulate airflow due to its design, containing materials with high thermal mass and a network of vents, ducts, and fans. The blistering heat that is gradually absorbed throughout the day is stored in the porous concrete slabs found on the exterior of the building; at night, when temperatures begin to drop, the stored heat is gradually released, warming the building and its residents at minimal cost. Thanks to how the air naturally circulates throughout the building—taking full advantage of a termite’s chimney effect and passive cooling—a self-sustaining ventilation cycle has been created, with comfortable indoor temperatures requiring only 10% of the energy consumed by traditional HVAC systems.

Bird Wings and Aviation

There are around 10,000 different species of birds in the world, with all but 60 being able to fly. Each and every one of these species is differently prepared to survive, with their psychology reflecting that. Some birds, like the albatross and the eagle, have to soar for long periods of time; their wingspan, being substantially larger than the rest of their body, has influenced flinders and long-range aircraft, maximizing lift while minimizing energy use for sustained flight. 

In contrast, falcons and hawks, which have short, pointed wings, require impressive speed and maneuverability to take down their prey. These very features can be seen in fighter jets, where this maneuverability is essential in open-air combat. An example of note is the aerodynamic design of the B-2 bomber, which is modeled by the sleek physiology of the peregrine falcon. The peregrine falcon utilizes high-speed dives, going up to 200 miles per hour, to ambush and essentially decapitate unsuspecting prey. Additionally, with its particular flying wing shape eliminating vertical tails, the B-2 bomber’s radar cross-section is minimized significantly, making it nearly undetectable in flight.

Conclusion

As humanity continues to look towards the future, we must acknowledge the environment that has and will continue to inspire us. Nature has had a head start of millions of years when it comes to refining solutions in comparison to humanity. Often these solutions, crafted through evolution and natural selection, are more sustainable, efficient, and innovative than those we create alone. By embracing biomimicry in modern engineering, both modern technological advancements and our appreciation for the natural world will grow.