Comments on: How Nature Makes Us Smarter http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2011/08/how-nature-makes-us-smarter/ How human ingenuity is changing the way we live Wed, 22 May 2013 23:01:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Randy Rieland http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2011/08/how-nature-makes-us-smarter/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Randy Rieland Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:59:20 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/?p=177#comment-265 Thanks for the feedback, Kathy. It is amazing how often nature can just stop you in your tracks. I have a pond and it too has algae. I wish it was long and stringy. It's green and slimy. That part of nature I could do without. Thanks again. Thanks for the feedback, Kathy. It is amazing how often nature can just stop you in your tracks. I have a pond and it too has algae. I wish it was long and stringy. It’s green and slimy. That part of nature I could do without. Thanks again.

]]> By: Kathy http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2011/08/how-nature-makes-us-smarter/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Kathy Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:24:22 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/?p=177#comment-260 I forgot to mention one thing. I have a pond which collects string algae. Everytime I pull it out of the pond I am amazed at how long and strong it is. It also takes a long time to biodegrade compared to other organic waste. I often wonder if it could be made into something useful...just food for thought. I forgot to mention one thing. I have a pond which collects string algae. Everytime I pull it out of the pond I am amazed at how long and strong it is. It also takes a long time to biodegrade compared to other organic waste. I often wonder if it could be made into something useful…just food for thought.

]]> By: Kathy http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2011/08/how-nature-makes-us-smarter/comment-page-1/#comment-259 Kathy Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:17:02 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/?p=177#comment-259 Shark skin is also incredibly resistant to bacteria. Something about their structure and pattern makes is very difficult for bacteria colonies to form. I believe that scientists are trying to mimic this pattern in medical supply design. I took a picture of a wasp this summer and was amazed at how it attained vertical lift off so quickly. It reminded me of the Smithsonian story about drones and the engineering required to get them off the ground. I do beleive that there will be many more engineering inventions as engineers film and play back in slow motion how different animals and insects move. Thanks for this fascinating article. Shark skin is also incredibly resistant to bacteria. Something about their structure and pattern makes is very difficult for bacteria colonies to form. I believe that scientists are trying to mimic this pattern in medical supply design.

I took a picture of a wasp this summer and was amazed at how it attained vertical lift off so quickly. It reminded me of the Smithsonian story about drones and the engineering required to get them off the ground.
I do beleive that there will be many more engineering inventions as engineers film and play back in slow motion how different animals and insects move.
Thanks for this fascinating article.

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