The Borrowed Nature of Biomimicry
Summary
Host Roman Mars and guest Kurt Kolstad explore biomimicry, examining how nature inspires human design. They discuss the successful kingfisher-inspired Shinkansen train and Brunel’s shipworm-inspired Thames tunnel, contrasting these with the flawed Mercedes Bionic car. The episode concludes with the complex history of honeycomb structures in aerospace, revealing that engineers are still learning from real bee combs.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and intro
Introduction to biomimicry and the bullet train
Brunel's shipworm-inspired tunneling shield
Mercedes Bionic and the boxfish myth
Sponsors and break
Honeycomb panels and aerospace design
Credits and closing sponsors
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