Humans are smart? Well think again.

We think humans are smart, well we have to think again.

My friend M. Ibnur Rashad is organising a workshop on #biommicry and that spurred me to read up more about it. Turns out that nature already has solutions to some of the problems that humans are scratching our heads to solve. 

What's new right? Well, sometimes (or rather most of the times) we do forget.

Take for example how scientists studied the design of the shark's skin to create a surface texture that is able to reduce bacterial growth without causing resistance, and is being applied in hospitals, childcare centres etc. 

https://asknature.org/idea/sharklet-surface-texture/#.W15iJnPmidM

Or the commonly known example of how Eiji Nakatsu, an engineer who is a birdwatcher, used his knowledge of the splashless water entry of kingfishers and silent flight of owls to decrease the sound generated by the Shinkansen trains.

https://asknature.org/idea/shinkansen-train/#.W15f9nPmidM

I must say all these are really fascinating and inspirational at the same time. We are all trying to solve problems and make things work better. We are proud of the advancements in technology that we've achieved and the intellect that we possess. All these are great for as long as they do not make us too proud to look at the seemingly simple things around us and learn from them. 

I am not a scientist. But I do believe this attitude of being able to look at nature, ponder and reflect upon it, is necessary not just so that we can create the best of inventions to solve the worst of problems, but also so that we are humbled by how limited our intellect actually is compared to the creator of the fascinating nature. 

This is something we should impart in our young so that they grow up to be better human beings who are able to make this world a more sustainable and harmonious place to live in.

PS: the examples above are taken from asknature.org.