https://news.mongabay.com/list/biomimicry/ Environmental science and conservation news Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:28:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/05/16160320/cropped-mongabay_icon-32x32.png https://news.mongabay.com/list/biomimicry/ 32 32 https://news.mongabay.com/2024/04/flocking-together-may-create-birds-of-a-feather-study-finds/ https://news.mongabay.com/2024/04/flocking-together-may-create-birds-of-a-feather-study-finds/#respond 30 Apr 2024 01:19:46 +0000 https://news.mongabay.com/?p=281504 - Findings suggest the benefits for the smaller bird include no longer needing to be vigilant for predators when foraging for food, as the bigger bird does this job.
- Previous reports show the lesser necklaced laughingthrush is already known for vocal mimicry, where it produces the call of another bird.
- Mimicry among various species potentially serves as an evolutionary strategy for protection and foraging benefits.
]]> Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2024/04/flocking-together-may-create-birds-of-a-feather-study-finds/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2021/08/color-changing-robo-chameleon-showcases-promising-camouflage-tech/ https://news.mongabay.com/2021/08/color-changing-robo-chameleon-showcases-promising-camouflage-tech/#respond 12 Aug 2021 10:09:16 +0000 https://news.mongabay.com/?p=245872 - Like real chameleons, the robo-chameleon collects information from its environment in real time, but the way it reproduces the colors on its artificial “skin” is different.
- The researchers say they hope the system will in future be able to read and mimic patterns as well.
- If colors and patterns can both be replicated in real time, it could pave the way for clothing that essentially makes the wearer invisible.
]]> Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2021/08/color-changing-robo-chameleon-showcases-promising-camouflage-tech/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2021/03/an-economic-case-for-competing-in-the-xprize-rainforest-contest-commentary/ https://news.mongabay.com/2021/03/an-economic-case-for-competing-in-the-xprize-rainforest-contest-commentary/#respond 01 Mar 2021 09:35:21 +0000 https://news.mongabay.com/?p=239952 - In this commentary, Jonah Wittkamper, President of the Global Governance Philanthropy Network and co-founder of NEXUS, makes an economic argument for participating in the contest.
- Wittkamper says a great deal of value could be unlocked with the ability to rapidly assess rainforest biodiversity.
- This post is a commentary and does not necessarily reflect the views of Mongabay.
]]> Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2021/03/an-economic-case-for-competing-in-the-xprize-rainforest-contest-commentary/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/through-biomimicry-brazil-seeks-tech-innovations-inspired-by-nature/ https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/through-biomimicry-brazil-seeks-tech-innovations-inspired-by-nature/#respond 28 Apr 2020 11:48:08 +0000 https://news.mongabay.com/?p=229550 - By valuing multifunctional design and being able to integrate materials that nature acknowledges in productive cycles, biomimicry reinforces the optimization of resources and aligns itself with the principles of a circular economy.
- Biomimicry began to be systematically implemented in the 1990s, initially to achieve energy efficiency; examples include buildings in Zimbabwe and Australia inspired by the circulation of air inside termite hills, the principle of whale fins applied to the generation of wind energy, and antiseptic walls that imitate shark skin.
- In Brazil, many immersion courses are now offered in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes that focus on innovative materials, and biomimicry consultants and startups are emerging in the market: In 2018, Nucleário became the first Brazilian company to win a prize from the Biomimicry Institute for its technology that protects trees in reforestation projects, based on the principles of winged seeds and bromeliads.
]]> Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/through-biomimicry-brazil-seeks-tech-innovations-inspired-by-nature/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2019/10/this-toad-from-central-africa-impersonates-a-deadly-viper-to-avoid-predators/ https://news.mongabay.com/2019/10/this-toad-from-central-africa-impersonates-a-deadly-viper-to-avoid-predators/#respond 24 Oct 2019 18:22:16 +0000 https://news.mongabay.com/?p=223775 - A team of researchers who spent ten years in the field observing the Congolese giant toad and its mimicry behavior published their findings in the Journal of Natural History this week.
- The triangular shape of the toad’s body, its particularly smooth skin for a toad, and its patterns of colors cause the amphibian to look like the viper’s head. In other words, the two are visually similar enough that any predators looking for a meal might certainly be wise to skip right past the Congolese giant toad rather than risk a lethal bite from a Gaboon viper. But just for a little extra insurance, the Congolese giant toad goes even further than mere visual mimicry.
]]> Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2019/10/this-toad-from-central-africa-impersonates-a-deadly-viper-to-avoid-predators/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2013/05/bats-tongue-could-inspire-miniature-surgical-robot-design/ https://news.mongabay.com/2013/05/bats-tongue-could-inspire-miniature-surgical-robot-design/#respond 06 May 2013 22:26:00 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2013/05/bats-tongue-could-inspire-miniature-surgical-robot-design/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2013/05/bats-tongue-could-inspire-miniature-surgical-robot-design/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2011/08/singing-frog-leads-to-insights-into-human-hearing/ https://news.mongabay.com/2011/08/singing-frog-leads-to-insights-into-human-hearing/#respond 03 Aug 2011 19:29:00 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2011/08/singing-frog-leads-to-insights-into-human-hearing/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2011/08/singing-frog-leads-to-insights-into-human-hearing/feed/ 0 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+0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/whale-biomimicry-inspires-better-wind-turbines/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2008/07/whale-biomimicry-inspires-better-wind-turbines/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2008/05/future-cities-will-be-more-like-ecosystems-that-enrich-society-and-the-environment/ https://news.mongabay.com/2008/05/future-cities-will-be-more-like-ecosystems-that-enrich-society-and-the-environment/#respond 28 May 2008 14:30:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/future-cities-will-be-more-like-ecosystems-that-enrich-society-and-the-environment/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2008/05/future-cities-will-be-more-like-ecosystems-that-enrich-society-and-the-environment/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/squid-beaks-may-revolutionize-engineering/ https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/squid-beaks-may-revolutionize-engineering/#respond 27 Mar 2008 14:30:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/squid-beaks-may-revolutionize-engineering/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/squid-beaks-may-revolutionize-engineering/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/how-falling-a-gecko-lands-on-its-feet/ https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/how-falling-a-gecko-lands-on-its-feet/#respond 17 Mar 2008 14:30:00 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/how-falling-a-gecko-lands-on-its-feet/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/how-falling-a-gecko-lands-on-its-feet/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/biomimicry-of-sea-cucumber-skin-may-help-stroke-treatment/ https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/biomimicry-of-sea-cucumber-skin-may-help-stroke-treatment/#respond 06 Mar 2008 14:30:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/biomimicry-of-sea-cucumber-skin-may-help-stroke-treatment/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2008/03/biomimicry-of-sea-cucumber-skin-may-help-stroke-treatment/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2008/02/gecko-inspired-adhesive-tape-could-improve-recovery-from-surgery/ https://news.mongabay.com/2008/02/gecko-inspired-adhesive-tape-could-improve-recovery-from-surgery/#respond 18 Feb 2008 14:30:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/gecko-inspired-adhesive-tape-could-improve-recovery-from-surgery/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2008/02/gecko-inspired-adhesive-tape-could-improve-recovery-from-surgery/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2007/11/termites-may-produce-cleaner-biofuels/ https://news.mongabay.com/2007/11/termites-may-produce-cleaner-biofuels/#respond 23 Nov 2007 14:30:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/termites-may-produce-cleaner-biofuels/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2007/11/termites-may-produce-cleaner-biofuels/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2007/07/gecko-mussels-biomimetic-underwater-adhesive/ https://news.mongabay.com/2007/07/gecko-mussels-biomimetic-underwater-adhesive/#respond 19 Jul 2007 14:30:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/gecko-mussels-biomimetic-underwater-adhesive/ Mongabay]]> 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https://news.mongabay.com/2006/12/butterfly-biomimicry-improves-communications-technology/#respond 11 Dec 2006 17:30:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/butterfly-biomimicry-improves-communications-technology/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2006/12/butterfly-biomimicry-improves-communications-technology/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2006/12/biomimicry-of-native-prairie-yields-more-bioenergy-than-corn-ethanol/ https://news.mongabay.com/2006/12/biomimicry-of-native-prairie-yields-more-bioenergy-than-corn-ethanol/#respond 07 Dec 2006 19:00:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/biomimicry-of-native-prairie-yields-more-bioenergy-than-corn-ethanol/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2006/12/biomimicry-of-native-prairie-yields-more-bioenergy-than-corn-ethanol/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/snail-venom-could-be-used-to-treat-pain-due-to-spinal-cord-injury/ https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/snail-venom-could-be-used-to-treat-pain-due-to-spinal-cord-injury/#respond 15 Nov 2006 04:59:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/snail-venom-could-be-used-to-treat-pain-due-to-spinal-cord-injury/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/snail-venom-could-be-used-to-treat-pain-due-to-spinal-cord-injury/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/beetle-biomimicry-could-allow-robots-to-climb-vertical-glass-walls/ https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/beetle-biomimicry-could-allow-robots-to-climb-vertical-glass-walls/#respond 03 Nov 2006 20:58:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/beetle-biomimicry-could-allow-robots-to-climb-vertical-glass-walls/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/beetle-biomimicry-could-allow-robots-to-climb-vertical-glass-walls/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/shark-biomimicry-produces-renewable-energy-system/ https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/shark-biomimicry-produces-renewable-energy-system/#respond 01 Nov 2006 14:28:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/shark-biomimicry-produces-renewable-energy-system/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2006/11/shark-biomimicry-produces-renewable-energy-system/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2006/10/bacteria-can-generate-renewable-energy-from-pollution-help-fight-global-warming/ https://news.mongabay.com/2006/10/bacteria-can-generate-renewable-energy-from-pollution-help-fight-global-warming/#respond 26 Oct 2006 19:58:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/bacteria-can-generate-renewable-energy-from-pollution-help-fight-global-warming/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2006/10/bacteria-can-generate-renewable-energy-from-pollution-help-fight-global-warming/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2006/10/bacteria-can-ensure-clean-water-say-researchers/ https://news.mongabay.com/2006/10/bacteria-can-ensure-clean-water-say-researchers/#respond 24 Oct 2006 23:58:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/bacteria-can-ensure-clean-water-say-researchers/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2006/10/bacteria-can-ensure-clean-water-say-researchers/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2006/08/feathers-human-hair-used-to-fight-oil-spill-in-philippines/ https://news.mongabay.com/2006/08/feathers-human-hair-used-to-fight-oil-spill-in-philippines/#respond 24 Aug 2006 15:19:39 +0000 http://news.mongabaydev.co.uk/2008/12/feathers-human-hair-used-to-fight-oil-spill-in-philippines/ Mongabay]]> https://news.mongabay.com/2006/08/feathers-human-hair-used-to-fight-oil-spill-in-philippines/feed/ 0 https://news.mongabay.com/2006/08/gecko-feet-inspire-high-friction-micro-fibers/ https://news.mongabay.com/2006/08/gecko-feet-inspire-high-friction-micro-fibers/#respond 22 Aug 2006 17:19:39 +0000 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