Page 185 - Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

Harun Yahya

In these counter-current heat exchangers, as engineers refer them,
two fluids (liquid or gas) flow in opposite directions in two separate but
contiguous channels. If the fluid in one channel is warmer than in the oth-
er, heat passes from the warm fluid to the colder one.

Can Plants Use an Electrical Switch?

The carnivorous Venus flytrap catches insects that land on its hinged
trap and trigger the hairs on it. These hairs act like electrical switches. The
instant one is touched, it gives off electrical signals that change the water
balance in the plant’s cells,
and trigger the flow of wa-
ter out of cells along the leaf

midrib, closing the trap. 129
The switches control-
ling the flow of current in
electrical circuits operate in
much the same way. When
the switch is turned off,
electric current cannot flow.
As soon as it is turned on
and the circuit is completed,
however, electric current be-
gins to flow along the wire
once again. Similarly, ani-
mals and plants use a great
many biological switches to
initiate or halt the flow of
electrical signals to the rele-

vant parts of their bodies. 130
The Venus flytrap’s cir-

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