Page 182 - Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

and also keep it warm. It uses its
soft and fluffy chest feathers in
building its nest. This down pro-
tects the eggs and the emerging
featherless chicks from the cold air.
Since the eider’s feathers retain
warm air, they exemplify the very
best form of natural insulation. 125
Modern mountain climbers
keep their bodies warm by wear-
ing special costumes filled with
feathers with high heat-retaining properties, similar to those of eider
feathers.

Fiber Optic Technology in Living Creatures

Fiber optics are transparent glass cables capable of transmitting light.
Since optical fibers can be easily bent and twisted, they can “pipe” light
into even the most inaccessible locations. Fiber optic cables also possess
the advantage of being able to carry coded messages loaded onto them,
much better than other cables can.
The polar bear’s fur is very similar to an optical fiber, carrying the
rays of the faint polar sun directly to the animal’s body. Since the fur pos-
sesses fiber optic capabilities, the sun’s rays make direct contact with the

Optical fiber

Light being reflected
down the fiber

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