Catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) cause millions of deaths annually due to biofilm. ACatechol (cohort 2023) developed a groundbreaking, bioinspired catheter, inspired by marine organisms, featuring a biofilm-repelling surface. Preclinical studies show over 40% infection reduction, potentially saving 2 million lives yearly and significantly reducing waste.

The Ray of Hope Accelerator (formerly Prize), honoring Ray C. Anderson, champions nature-inspired solutions for global environmental challenges. ACatechol was a 2022 finalist. The Accelerator continues to support nature-inspired startups. Learn more at AskNature.org, visit ACatechol, or explore the Biomimicry Institute.

Missed the Ray of Hope Accelerator info session? Catch the replay to learn about this six-month program supporting nature-inspired startups.

The session detailed funding opportunities, mentorship, expert sessions, and networking. It also explained the application process, eligibility, and selection criteria for innovators.

Apply for the accelerator: biomimicry.org/innovation/accelerator/apply/. Watch the replay for full details. For more about the organization, visit the Biomimicry Institute.

Discover "Maya Lessons From People, Plants, and the Sun" with medical anthropologist Dr. Monica Berger González. This conversation explores how Mayan medicine's holistic view of interconnected health—spanning people, animals, and the planet—offers insights for biomimicry, examining ancient traditions, modern expressions, and the future of global health.

Interested in biomimicry? Explore the AskNature Hive for a month on us: https://asknaturehive.biomimicry.org/. Learn more about the Biomimicry Institute at https://biomimicry.org/ and https://asknature.org/. Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Join us as New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer discusses his book, AIR-BORNE. Drawing from extensive COVID-19 reporting, Zimmer reveals how the air teems with life—a trillion trillion bacteria cells are emitted annually, inspiring biomimicry. Explore the living atmosphere and its profound implications for design.

Interested in the Hive? Get a free month to explore: asknaturehive.biomimicry.org/offers/hueJ9Un9/checkout?coupon_code=ONEMONTHFREE. Learn more about the Institute: biomimicry.org | asknature.org | asknaturehive.biomimicry.org. Follow us: Instagram | LinkedIn.

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In "Plato and the Platypus: Biomimicry as a Philosophy," philosopher Henry Dicks explores biomimicry beyond a design tool, presenting it as a profound philosophy for living. This conversation delves into how biomimicry offers a framework for understanding humanity's relationship with nature.

Tune in to unpack biomimicry's philosophical roots, compare it to other worldviews, and reflect on its implications for us as designers, citizens, and humans navigating a changing world. Learn more at biomimicry.org, asknature.org, and asknaturehive.biomimicry.org.

Connect with us on social media: Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

Biodiversity is the foundation of life, sustaining us in countless ways—from food and water to medicine and cultural inspiration. On World Biodiversity Day, we join the global movement to live in harmony with nature, building a future where both people and the planet can thrive.

Protecting this vital resource requires collective effort. We invite you to share what living in harmony with nature means to you, inspiring others with your commitments and actions. Learn more about biomimicry: biomimicry.org | asknature.org | asknaturehive.biomimicry.org

Connect with us: Instagram | LinkedIn | Bluesky

Celebrate 20 years of biomimicry! Join us for the replay of our 20th Anniversary Virtual Party, a joyful gathering rooted in connection and beauty. This special event highlights the evolving story of AskNature.org, the vision behind the Ray of Hope Accelerator, and heartfelt insights from co-founder Janine Benyus.

Whether you've been with us since the beginning or are new to biomimicry, this celebration is for you. Thank you for growing with us; let's continue designing with nature for a thriving future.

Explore more at the Biomimicry Institute, AskNature, and AskNature Hive. Connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

GreenPod Labs, winner of the 2022 Ray of Hope Prize for their plant-pheromone-inspired produce protectors, doesn't rest on its laurels. Their initial innovation was just the beginning; they continuously seek inspiration from nature and other biomimetic innovators to drive new product development.

Discover their thriving biomimetic startup journey and success by watching the AskNature Hive Live Convo replay.

Learn more about biomimicry and connect with the community: biomimicry.org, asknature.org, biomimicry.org/community, Instagram, LinkedIn.

The Biomimicry Institute has announced ten startups for its 2025 Ray of Hope Accelerator, launching in September. These nature-inspired ventures will receive $15,000 in non-dilutive funding and over $50,000 in resources and mentorship to fast-track their market entry. The six-month program champions a Nature Positive future, expanding its global reach with participants from three continents, including first-time startups from Colombia and the Netherlands, and diverse leadership.

Founders will present their cutting-edge solutions at a special reception during New York Climate Week on Thursday, September 25, at Brickworks Design Studio. RSVP here: Luma link. The accelerator is supported by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Bentley Environmental Foundation, and L’Oréal. Learn more: biomimicry.org/innovation/accelerator.

Join the AskNature Hive for a conversation with Andrés Mitnik, CEO of Strong by Form. His company, a 2022 Ray of Hope Accelerator participant, developed Woodflow®, a patented technology that mimics tree growth. This process combines computational design with robotic manufacturing to create lightweight, structurally optimized wood-based composites for architecture, furniture, and mobility.

Andrés will provide a behind-the-scenes look at their design and production, highlight real-world applications, and share how biomimicry guides their success in developing smarter, sustainable solutions.

Learn more about biomimicry: biomimicry.org | asknature.org | biomimicry.org/community
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Plants profoundly shaped dinosaurs, early mammals, and the prehistoric world. This dynamic, plant-rich environment offers new inspiration for biomimicry, revealing a vibrant land defined by intricate relationships.

Watch the AskNature Hive Live Convo replay with author Riley Black to explore this plant-defined world and its enduring impact, providing biomimics with fresh models to learn from.

Learn more about biomimicry: [Biomimicry Institute](https://biomimicry.org/), [AskNature](https://asknature.org/), [Community](https://biomimicry.org/community/). Connect with us: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/biomimicryinstitute/), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomimicryinstitute/).

Watch the replay of AskNature Program Director Camilo Garzón's "Narrative Gravity: Connecting to Nature Through Story" from the 2025 Learn Biomimicry Confluence. This powerful presentation explored how storytelling transforms scientific understanding into profound personal connection and a catalyst for change.

The Biomimicry Confluence is a two-day conference uniting nature-inspired ideas and innovators. Discover more about the event at www.learnbiomimicry.com. Explore Biomimicry resources: biomimicry.org, asknature.org, community, learning. Connect on social media: Instagram, LinkedIn.

The Biomimicry Institute empowers individuals worldwide to learn from nature's genius. Our free educational tool, [AskNature](https://asknature.org/), helps innovators and students find sustainable solutions inspired by the natural world.

Your support ensures resources like AskNature remain free and accessible, fostering a future in harmony with life. Please [donate today](https://biomimicry.org/donate/). Explore our work further at the [Biomimicry Institute](https://biomimicry.org/) and connect with our [community](https://biomimicry.org/community/) on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/biomimicryinstitute/) or [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomimicryinstitute/).

Regenerative design harnesses nature's genius to restore and regenerate the natural world, moving beyond sustainability to create positive environmental impact. This AskNature Hive Live Conversation will showcase global built environment projects that utilize biomimicry and ecosystem services to replace artificial systems, offering practical strategies for emulation.

Sean Quinn, who leads HOK’s global regenerative design practice, will share his expertise. With two decades of experience in performance-based sustainable design and biomimicry, he is committed to ensuring tomorrow's built environment yields net-positive benefits for nature, buildings, and communities.

Explore biomimicry further: [Biomimicry Institute](https://biomimicry.org/), [AskNature](https://asknature.org/), [Community](https://biomimicry.org/community/). Connect on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/biomimicryinstitute/) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomimicryinstitute/).

The Biomimicry Institute hosted architect Michael Pawlyn, who explored how biomimicry can help build a truly life-friendly world. Pawlyn emphasized biomimicry as a framework for transformative systems change, aligning human activity with nature's life-supporting conditions.

His vision, from circular resource flows to regenerative architecture, inspires new possibilities for design, creation, and collaboration, guiding us toward a flourishing future.

Learn more about biomimicry and connect: biomimicry.org | asknature.org | Community | Learning | Instagram | LinkedIn

Janine Benyus, the "Godmother of Biomimicry," advocates for humans to become a "welcome species" by designing settlements that give back to the planet. Through Biomimicry 3.8, she demonstrates how human environments can emulate nature's ecological gifts.

Benyus envisions cities functioning like forests—storing water, purifying air, cycling nutrients, and nurturing biodiversity. Her "Project Positive" initiatives prove this regenerative vision is achievable by asking, "What would Nature do here?" Discover more at biomimicry.net.

John Todd's lyrical exploration reveals essential ecological design principles, demonstrating how mimicking nature leads to breakthrough solutions. He shares insights from his award-winning eco-industrial park and strategies for purifying water bodies, from Lake Champlain to Venice. His natural sewage treatment systems utilize native plants to break down pollutants and produce clean water, aiming to evolve a holistic technological and social framework.

This talk was delivered at the 2002 Bioneers National Conference, part of the Ecological Design Collection, Vol. 1. Since 1990, Bioneers has served as a vital hub for social and scientific innovators, offering practical solutions for pressing environmental and social challenges.

For decades, scientists have warned of climate and biodiversity crises stemming from deforestation and fossil fuels, simultaneously developing nature-based solutions. Despite the urgency and available solutions, peer-reviewed climate science, including Dr. Simard's work informing forest climate solutions for western North America, faces widespread efforts to discredit it. Her talk will delve into the recent backlash she has experienced.

This keynote was delivered at the 2024 Bioneers Conference. To view other talks, visit http://www.bioneers.org.

The world's design challenges can often be addressed by copying nature, a concept known as biomimicry. Explore this idea further with 99% Invisible, an independent radio show by Roman Mars focusing on design and architecture. It began as a collaborative project between San Francisco's KALW and the American Institute of Architects.

For additional insights, download a biomimicry infographic here.

This environmental video essay explores biomimicry, examining how nature-inspired design extends beyond architecture and materials to foster better relationships, activism, and communities.

Drawing on adrienne maree brown's emergent strategy, the essay demonstrates how natural principles can guide us through a complex social world.

Support future videos via Patreon, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or email occ.climate@gmail.com. Download a biomimicry infographic here.