Mother Nature

It is incredible how much of our lives is based on Mother Nature. We live in such a high tech world that it can be hard to even see the natural world which we actually live in.

Planes that fly us from one country to another ‘copy’ birds in flight. Engineers have studied these birds flying and adapted planes so that we are safer in the air. The shape and movement of a bird’s wings have been ‘used’ to develop and design more efficient and effective aircraft.

Ships very often incorporate elements that are inspired by marine life and whales, especially in the area of propulsion. This is a form of biomimicry which aims to improve speed and fuel efficiency. For example, whales are naturally streamlined and efficient when moving through the Oceans of the Earth, and this has inspired engineers to create ships with similar shapes to reduce resistance which improves speed.

Even some cars, which we kind of take for granted, are biomimic. The McLaren P1’s design is inspired by the sailfish for better efficiency. The Mercedes-Benz Bionic’s exterior is modeled after the yellow boxfish, with a focus on its rigid exoskeleton. The Mazda Kodo is influenced by the cheetah and its powerful and controlled movements, (to name just 3 makes of cars).

The most ‘famous’ example of biomimicry is “Velcro”, something that we buy and use every day without really giving it a thought. This useful piece of equipment was ‘inspired’ by burrs (hooked seed pods) from the burdock plant (Arctium). George de Mestral, who created Velcro, was inspired when on a trip in 1941 these ‘burrs’ kept sticking to his clothes and his dog’s fur. Thus today, we have Velcro.

It is so interesting when we just sit down and read about how Mother Nature ‘teaches’ us.

The intricate patterns of a snowflake can very often be found in the intricate detail of lace. The vast space of the Oceans teaches us the importance of space and having our own space and allowing others to have their own space.

One of the most important lessons we learn from Mother Nature is that it is so important to “adapt”. Nature is constantly changing with the 4 seasons => Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. Trees lose their leaves and animals hibernate to conserve energy during the Winter months and yet how quickly flowers start to bloom during Spring. Every part of Nature is flexible in order to survive during the year. With the ‘challenges’ we face in everyday life, we need to ‘copy’ Mother Nature and be flexible in our dealings with others.

“Resilience” is a big aspect that we see every day from Nature. Animals find ways of surviving even though the planet is going through climate change, and it doesn’t matter how much concrete we put down, plants always pop through those cracks. Mother Nature is strong and determined and so can we be.

A third lesson from Mother Nature is “balance”. The Cycle of Life is a delicate balance that works to maintain harmony in the ecosystem of planet Earth. The Sun, the Moon, the seasons and even the food chain are all ‘aligned’ to support life on Earth. We can use this “balance” in our everyday lives, remembering that ‘life’ is more important than any material possessions.

Patience, beauty and simplicity are all qualities that Mother Nature teaches us when we look to “Her” for guidance.

The human race will always be learning from Mother Nature, and just as Nature has always cared for us, we need to care for and look after the Earth we live on, because the Earth really is a “Jewel in Space”.