biomimic

Biomimic, in design and engineering, refers to the practice of emulating features, functions, or strategies found in living organisms to solve human problems. Biomimicry and biomimetics are closely related terms; biomimicry often emphasizes sustainable or holistic design, while biomimetics stresses the methodological imitation of natural systems.

The concept has ancient roots in natural philosophy but gained modern prominence with advances in biology, materials science, and engineering in the 20th century. It encompasses a range of approaches from studying natural materials and structures to copying biological processes and behaviors.

Notable examples include Velcro, inspired by burrs sticking to fur; lotus leaf–like surfaces that repel water and dirt; shark skin–style textures used to reduce drag and limit microbial growth on materials; gecko-inspired dry adhesives; and termite-mound ventilation principles informing energy-efficient architecture. These cases illustrate the diversity of biomimicry, spanning everyday objects to large-scale design.

Practitioners observe natural phenomena, extract underlying principles, and translate them into designs using modeling, prototyping, and testing. The process often involves interdisciplinary collaboration across biology, engineering, and design, with an emphasis on sustainability, resilience, and practicality.

Biomimicry informs product development, architectural design, robotics, medical devices, and materials science, supporting innovations that aim to be efficient, robust, and environmentally friendly. Critics note that direct imitation can be impractical due to differences in scale, materials, and manufacturing constraints, and that some claims about natural solutions can be overstated.