30 Animals That Made Us Smarter
Stories of the Natural World That Inspired Human Ingenuity
Millions of years of evolution led to remarkable animal adaptations—adaptations that, as UK broadcaster and wildlife documentarian Patrick Aryee demonstrates in his enjoyable, informative book, scientists draw inspiration from, resulting in useful and outright cool new technologies.
Here, thirty case studies are used to show how specific animal abilities have been adapted to human needs. A group of German scientists used the versatility and muscle structure of the elephant’s trunk, from how it bends to its gripping ability, to develop a robotic arm that handles hazardous materials without putting people at risk. A bullet train in Japan had one major flaw (its speed was fine, but the way pressure built up when it went through tunnels made it produce a loud noise), and the solution came from examining the quiet way that a kingfisher dives in search of food.
From well-insulated polar bears to tough-headed woodpeckers and tiny tardigrades, animals have lessons to impart, and 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter shares them with a perfect balance of conviviality and scientific research. Useful diagrams show how animal bones and muscles, and the technologies based on them, work. The result is a fun book that conveys the wonder of the natural world and explains science in an accessible, creative way.
Reviewed by
Jeff Fleischer
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
