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Biomimicry

Biomimicry
Bio-Inspired Clothing Technology: How Insects Inspire Better Waterproof, Breathable Sportswear

Amphico is transforming outdoor apparel with bio-inspired technology. Moving beyond traditional gear's chemical coatings, Amphico mimics nature to create sustainable, high-performance textiles. Inspired by springtails, their non-polar fabric uses multi-level texturing to repel water, dirt, and bacteria.

Further, Amphico reduces environmental impact by mimicking tiger beetles and butterflies for coloring, creating diverse hues from just four yarns. This innovation makes textiles easier to recycle and cuts freshwater consumption by over 80% during coloring, fostering a more sustainable outdoor industry.

Learn more about biomimicry: [Biomimicry Institute](https://biomimicry.org/), [AskNature](https://asknature.org/). Connect on social media: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/biomimicryinstitute/), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/biomimicryinstitute), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomimicryinstitute/).

How Sustainable Packaging Can Dramatically Lower Food Waste | Biomimicry Design

Bio-inspired packaging could revolutionize food shipping and spoilage. Currently, 40-60% of produce spoils before consumption, especially where cold storage is lacking. This wastes half of humanity's harvest while a billion people face hunger.

GreenPod Labs has developed sachets that harness natural signaling substances from fruits and vegetables. Placed in produce crates, these natural, residue-free sachets extend shelf life by 40-60% without affecting safety or nutrition. Visit GreenPod Labs for details.

This innovation, inspired by biomimicry, offers a sustainable solution to dramatically lower food waste. Explore more at AskNature or Biomimicry Institute.

Mimicking This Tiny Glass Sponge For Stronger, Lightweight Modular Building Materials

Inspired by the Venus flower basket's efficient cellular architecture, Metavoxel Technologies has developed 3-D modular building materials. This innovation addresses the environmental impact of traditional construction, which consumes vast resources and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

Engineers design cellular blocks from materials like wood and biocomposites. These can be robotically assembled into strong, ultra-lightweight metamaterials for diverse applications, including buildings and vehicles. This revolutionary approach reduces raw material use and carbon footprint, embodying nature's principle of "doing more with less."

Learn more: Metavoxel Technologies, AskNature (Sponge Innovation), Biomimicry Institute, AskNature.

The Future of Food | How This ECO Friendly Innovation will Save the Planet by Mimicking Honey Bees

Commercial pollination faces significant challenges due to declining local pollinator populations and reliance on honeybees. BloomX offers a solution with devices like Robee and Crossbee, which mimic natural bee pollination strategies, including buzz and electrostatic methods. Embracing this technology can reduce dependence on commercial honeybees, mitigate disease spread, and secure abundant food production for the future.

The Ray of Hope Accelerator supports nature-inspired solutions addressing global environmental and sustainability challenges. Created in honor of Ray C. Anderson, this program recognized BloomX as a 2022 finalist. For more information, visit the Ray of Hope Accelerator, the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, and BloomX.

Combatting Plastic Pollution: A New Nature-Inspired Solution

Microplastics, tiny particles from broken-down plastics, pose a significant environmental and health threat, accumulating in waterways and bodies. Cellugy offers an eco-friendly solution: cellulose, derived from plants and bacteria. This natural substance, produced at scale for cosmetics and personal care, safely replaces plastic-based ingredients, effectively trapping water, oils, and vitamins while combating plastic pollution.

Cellugy participated in the Biomimicry Institute’s 2023 Ray of Hope Accelerator, a program supporting nature-inspired startups that scale systemic solutions to global environmental challenges. These innovators leverage nature's wisdom to address critical issues. Learn more: Ray of Hope Accelerator | Biomimicry Institute | Cellugy | Cellugy on AskNature

Unlocking the Secret to Rapid and Complete Plastic Degradation

Intropic Materials has developed a groundbreaking solution for rapid plastic degradation. Inspired by nature, they embed enzymes directly into plastics. Protected by biodegradable covers during production, these enzymes mimic "chaperone proteins" to ensure their effectiveness.

When composted, these enzymes quickly break down plastics from the inside out into simpler, biodegradable molecules within hours or days. This eliminates slow microbial breakdown and harmful microplastics, promoting a circular economy or natural degradation in soil and water.

Learn more: intropicmaterials.com. Biomimicry: biomimicry.org, asknature.org. Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. Video: Root House Studio. Thanks: Ray C. Anderson Foundation.

Biodiversity and Biomimicry - Why We Must Protect Biological Diversity

Biodiversity is the foundation of life, sustaining us with food, water, medicine, and cultural inspiration. This World Biodiversity Day, we join a global movement to live in harmony with nature, ensuring a future where both people and the planet flourish. Protecting biodiversity requires collective effort.

We invite you to share what living in harmony with nature means to you. Inspire others by sharing your reflections, stories, or commitments.

Learn more about biomimicry: https://biomimicry.org/, https://asknature.org/, https://asknaturehive.biomimicry.org. Connect with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/biomimicryinstitute/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomimicryinstitute/, https://bsky.app/profile/biomimicry.bsky.social

This BRILLIANT Sustainability Idea will Change the World | New Self Healing Composite Material

CompPair has developed a groundbreaking self-healing composite material. Triggered by heat, this innovative resin allows products to repair themselves, much like living organisms. This technology extends product lifetimes, significantly reducing waste and energy consumption, thereby boosting the circular economy.

CompPair was a finalist for the 2023 Ray of Hope Prize. The Ray of Hope Accelerator, built upon eight years of programming and honoring Ray C. Anderson, supports nature-inspired solutions addressing global environmental challenges. It continues to foster a vibrant community of innovative, nature-inspired startups.

Learn more: CompPair | Ray of Hope Accelerator | Biomimicry Institute | Ray C. Anderson Foundation

Ray of Hope Accelerator - Ask Us Anything Webinar

Join the Biomimicry Institute's 2024 Ray of Hope Accelerator. We annually support ten high-impact, nature-inspired startups (Pre-seed to Series A) with $15,000 in non-dilutive funding and over $50,000 in services. Benefits include tailored coaching, investor introductions, a Nature Retreat, and training on impact, storytelling, DEI, and founder mental health.

We prioritize individual growth, fostering a vibrant community and strong relationships. Unlike typical accelerators, we focus on your journey as a visionary leader. With over 40 thriving companies in our portfolio, we're ready to support you. For program details, visit biomimicry.org/rayofhopeprize/.

Plant-Based Alternatives to Toxic Colorants

Conventional pigments, often metal or oil-derived, present environmental and health concerns, including carcinogens like titanium dioxide and links to human rights abuses. Sparxell offers a breakthrough: the first environmentally sustainable, non-toxic pigments, glitters, sequins, and films. Inspired by structural color in nature, their patented process transforms cellulose nanocrystals into biodegradable, vibrant alternatives with state-of-the-art performance.

Sparxell was a finalist for the 2022 Ray of Hope Prize. The Ray of Hope Accelerator (biomimicry.org/rayofhopeprize/) supports nature-inspired solutions for global environmental challenges, fostering innovative startups. Learn more about Sparxell at sparxell.com and biomimicry at biomimicry.org.

A Sustainable Solution for the Chemical Industry (Inspired by Nature)

The chemical industry currently relies on fossil fuels and extreme temperature and pressure, leading to high energy consumption, gigatons of CO2 emissions, and dangerous byproducts. Even existing sustainable alternatives are often inefficient. Inspired by nature, Anodyne Chemistries has innovated a new bioelectric manufacturing process, offering a more efficient and sustainable solution than current thermochemical methods.

Anodyne Chemistries was a finalist for the 2022 Ray of Hope Prize, which supports nature-inspired solutions for global environmental challenges. The Ray of Hope Accelerator continues to foster a vibrant global community of innovative, nature-inspired startups. Learn more about Anodyne Chemistries and the Biomimicry Institute.

Additional resources: Ray C. Anderson Foundation | Innovation Newsletter | Anodyne on AskNature | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Saving Coral Reefs: Climate Change-Resilient Corals Grow 50x Faster With One Natural Healing Process

This video highlights how a nature-inspired healing process is transforming coral reef restoration. With over half of the world's living coral lost since 1950 due to climate change, pollution, and overfishing, traditional coral farming methods are often insufficient.

Startup Coral Vita addresses this by using micro fragmentation in land-based farms, growing climate-resilient corals up to 50 times faster than in nature. This innovative approach helps restore dying reefs globally.

Coral Vita was a finalist for the 2022 Ray of Hope Prize, which supports nature-inspired solutions for environmental challenges. Learn more at Coral Vita and the Ray of Hope Accelerator.

Replay of the Live Conversation with Janine Benyus: Biomimicry for Impact

Discover biomimicry and its innovative solutions. Explore the Biomimicry Institute at biomimicry.org and delve into nature-inspired designs on AskNature.org.

Stay connected with us on social media: follow us on Instagram, like our page on Facebook, and join our community on LinkedIn. Thanks for watching our video!

#nature #learn #science

Biomimicry Institute Live Stream

Explore biomimicry and its innovative principles by visiting the Biomimicry Institute at biomimicry.org, and discover nature's solutions on AskNature.org.

Connect with us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. #nature #science #learning

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Tardigrades & Silkworms: Nature's Secret to Smarter Seed Coatings!

Biofertilizers, which use living soil microbes to enhance plant growth, face a challenge: delicate bacteria often die on the shelf before application. Inspired by resilient tardigrades and silkworm silk, Ivu Biologics developed a biodegradable seed coating. This innovation extends microbe shelf-life, boosting crop yields, restoring soil health, and reducing the need for conventional fertilizers and pesticides.

Ivu Biologics was a finalist for the 2022 Ray of Hope Prize. The Ray of Hope Accelerator (formerly Prize), created in honor of Ray C. Anderson, supports nature-inspired solutions for environmental and sustainability challenges. This program fosters innovative startups like Ivu Biologics, contributing to a sustainable and resilient world.

Replay of the Live Conversation with John Warner on Green Chemistry

The latest AskNature Hive Live conversation featured John Warner, a renowned chemist and advocate for non-toxic, sustainable materials. He shared insights on how biomimicry principles can revolutionize chemical design, pioneering green chemistry practices that mimic nature to reduce environmental impact and promote health.

Explore biomimicry further at Biomimicry.org and AskNature.org. Join our nature-inspired community at AskNature Hive and follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Replay of the Live Conversation with Dr. Barbara Natterson Horowitz

Our latest Live Conversation featured Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, author of *Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health*. She shared profound insights on how nature's strategies, informed by evolutionary biology and animal behavior, can enhance human health, resilience, and well-being, bridging veterinary and human medicine.

Explore biomimicry further at [Biomimicry.org](https://biomimicry.org/) and [AskNature.org](https://asknature.org/). Join our nature-inspired community on the [AskNature Hive](https://asknaturehive.biomimicry.org). Connect with us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/biomimicryinstitute/), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/biomimicryinstitute), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomimicryinstitute/). #nature #biomimicry #asknaturehive

Replay of the Live Conversation with Erin Rovalo + Amanda Sturgeon

The recent AskNature Hive Live Conversation with Erin Rovalo and Amanda Sturgeon explored biomimicry, biophilia, and the built environment. They discussed how nature-inspired design creates sustainable, health-promoting spaces.

Erin Rovalo, a PhD and Director of Education at the International Living Future Institute, also serves on The Biomimicry Institute Board. Amanda Sturgeon is CEO of The Biomimicry Institute, an award-winning architect and author.

Explore biomimicry at biomimicry.org and asknature.org, and join our community at asknaturehive.biomimicry.org. Follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Ray of Hope Accelerator 2024 Cohort Demo Day

Missed the Ray of Hope Demo Day 2024? Watch the recording to see 10 nature-inspired startups present groundbreaking, biomimicry-powered solutions for pressing environmental challenges. Discover how these visionary companies are reimagining sustainability.

Hosted by the Ray of Hope Accelerator at The Biomimicry Institute, which supports high-impact startups with funding and mentorship, this recording offers inspiration for the future of nature-inspired innovation. Watch now.

Learn more about The Biomimicry Institute: biomimicry.org, asknature.org, asknaturehive.biomimicry.org. Connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

AskNature Hive Live Convo with Adelheid Fischer Replay

Adelheid Fischer's AskNature Hive Live Conversation explored Biomimicry in National Parks, revealing how these awe-inspiring landscapes hold secrets to sustainable design and innovation.

Interested in joining the Hive? Explore for a month, on us! https://asknaturehive.biomimicry.org/offers/hueJ9Un9/checkout?coupon_code=ONEMONTHFREE

Learn more about the Biomimicry Institute and its initiatives: biomimicry.org, asknature.org, and asknaturehive.biomimicry.org. Connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection

“The Thinking Game” is the inside story of DeepMind's groundbreaking AI research, culminating in the Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold breakthrough. Filmed over five years by the award-winning team behind "AlphaGo," this documentary explores co-founder Demis Hassabis's lifelong pursuit of artificial general intelligence and the rigorous scientific journey from mastering strategy games to solving the 50-year-old protein folding problem.

Following its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, "The Thinking Game" is now available to watch for free. For those interested in hosting a screening for a classroom, community, or workplace, visit: rocofilms.com/films/the-thinking-game/.

 

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The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection