AskNature

Tree canopies avoid wind damage by changing shape to become more aerodynamic.

Spider webs dampen ambient vibration while efficiently transmitting point source vibrations from caught prey.

Cabbage white butterflies warm their muscles by reflecting sunlight from their wings onto their bodies.

Beaver dams allow wildfire ash to settle, keeping areas downstream clean.

Wing feather midribs change shape from circular to square, adding strength without adding material.

Snow algae protects against UV damage via a red carotenoid pigment.

Thousands of octopuses nurture their eggs in hydrothermal vent communities by utilizing warmth for energy-efficient development.

The thick layer of low-density, subcutaneous tissue of the ocean sunfish enables rapid depth changes by having a incompressible, gelatinous composition.

The cuticular wax of the dwarf mountain pine enhances photosynthesis by using fluorophores that convert UV light into blue light that can be used for photosynthesis, even under low-light conditions.

Antennules of the spiny lobster trap water to identify odors using chemosensory hairs.

Faster growth rates of the outer edges of petals and sepals create internal strain that causes buds to open and curl backward.

The valves of the Atlantic razor clam reduce drag and the amount of energy required to reach burrow depth by contracting to locally fluidize the surrounding soil.

Cucumber plant tendrils twist due to an asymmetric contraction of an internal fiber ribbon of specialized cells, causing loops to be added when pulled apart instead of unwinding.

Hoverflies use a rolling maneuver to right themselves when taking off from upside down.

The spine of hero shrews is remarkably strong yet flexible, due to interlocking vertebral spines along the spinal column.

Genes of giraffes maintain cardiac health despite high blood pressure by keeping thickened heart muscles supple.

Naked mole rat queens stay reproductive through long lives by maintaining the health of a large number of egg cells.

Marmots maintain strong bones during hibernation by building up without breaking down.

Many mammals can suspend development of embryos to deliver at more favorable times. 

Body of the dung beetle reduces soil ahesion via non-smooth surface morphology.

Dragonfly wings are lined with sensors that help the insect navigate using information about airflow and wing strain.

Taller bumps compensate for loss of friction due to polar bears' relatively smaller paw pads. 

A single protein found in bloodworms performs six distinct functions critical for the formation and performance of the creature's jaw.

The carton nests of jet ants are reinforced by the hyphae of resident fungi.

Bottlenose dolphins develop lifelong friendships early on that will benefit them through shared information, cooperation, and other means.

Dolphins send out broadband whistles and bursts of clicks to prevent messages from being distorted underwater.

New generations of bottlenose dolphins adapt to changing situations by learning from peers and not just mothers.

Humpback whales control movement of prey by blowing spiraling nets of bubbles underwater.

The skin of pilot whales resists microorganisms thanks to microscopic pores and nanoridges, surrounded by a secreted enzymatic gel which denatures proteins and carbohydrates.

The tail fluke of the humpback whale breaks through the water as the tail is moved up and down, enabling powerful swimming.

Baleen whales use fringed sheets of keratin to strain food from water before they swallow.

The blood vessel network in the tongues of gray whales precools blood to avoid heat loss via counter-current heat exchange.

The body of the dolphin has low friction in water by having an optimal length to diameter ratio.

Veins and arteries of Cuvier's beaked whales manage heat through different configurations of counter-current heat exchangers.

The blubber of the bottlenose dolphin absorbs heat by acting as a phase change material

The flippers of the humpback whale channel flow and increase aerodynamic efficiency due to tubercles or bumps.

Baleen in throat of bowhead whale traps prey by tangling fringed edges together.

Chirps of dolphins carry through water because they are multi-rate, ultra-short wave forms.

The members of spinner dolphin pods stun and capture fish by emitting ultrasonic beams.

Whales navigate with incredible accuracy underwater using Earth's magnetic fields.

High resolution biosonar of dolphins, bats and mole rats gives an accurate imaging by using real-time data processing.

Lungs of whales efficiently expel air via powerful exhalations.

Mycorrhizal network sustains diversity in a forest by transporting nutrients and water.

The seeds of yew trees are protected from being eaten by large animals because they contain poisonous compounds called taxanes.

The cuticular wax of the dwarf mountain pine enhances photosynthesis by using fluorophores that convert UV light into blue light that can be used for photosynthesis, even under low-light conditions.

The leading edge of the tornado-like spinning maple seed provides a constant lift force, allowing seeds to disperse over a greater area.

Trees in cloud forests cope with the dry season by absorbing water from clouds directly through their leaves.

Nepenthes pitcher plants and treeshrews maintain a mutually beneficial relationship by exchanging nutrients.

Cellulose fibers in plant stems increase toughness by winding around tubes at an angle

Trunks and branches of trees withstand external stresses through load-adaptive growth.

Roots of longleaf pine protect from strong winds by forming both large anchoring taproots and a widespread lateral root system.

The mud nest of the apostlebird is a sturdy home high in the trees, built using a jiggled-mud construction technique.

The cooling effects of shade trees in subtropical regions are most influenced by foliage density and leaf thickness, leaf texture, and leaf color lightness.

The trunks of pine trees withstands wind and snow via spiral growth.

Air-filled sacs in the pollen grains of pine trees allow pollen to travel farther through the air

Deciduous trees allow more water to reach the soil and seep into streams by seasonally shedding leaves that lose water via evaporation.

Resin produced by conifer trees protects from mechanical or insect damage because it flows, then hardens to seal the wound site.

Tall, wide trees in the forests of the Pacific Northwest serve as nurse logs to their seedlings after they fall, providing decades of water and nutrients as they slowly decay.

Bark of trees keeps surface cool by minimizing absorption of solar light and maximizing thermal emission

The structure of the cells in xylem passively moves water from roots to leaves through a system of chambers and valves, and filters out pathogens.

Trees along rivers help retain carbon in an ecosystem by adding organic debris and slowing down water.

Sharp claws on squirrel feet increase vertical agility by giving strategic points of attachment while other body structures shift direction.

Bristlecone pines can survive for thousands of years in harsh environments by shutting down non-essential processes.

Flowering of grass trees following a fire may be triggered by a huge release of ethylene gas as the trees burn.

Roots of broad-based trees with stiff trunks resist uprooting through compressive buttressing.

Genes of giraffes maintain cardiac health despite high blood pressure by keeping thickened heart muscles supple.

A complex arrangement of materials in the weevils' slender snouts make them strong and flexible.

Bird bones aid in attaining flight because they are thin and dense, not because they are lightweight.

Wings of beetles fold multiple times without wear or fatigue by having resilin in key joints.

The hard outer coverings of some sea urchins, called tests, allow local deformation that may resist impact loading by incorporating collagen-swathed sutures.

The cells of lesser clubmoss plants prevent deformation during repeated dehydration via small vacuoles filled with mechanical mixtures called colloids.

Scales of integument of the Kenyan sand boa minimize abrasive damage by having a gradient in the material properties.

Faster growth rates of the outer edges of petals and sepals create internal strain that causes buds to open and curl backward.

Cucumber plant tendrils twist due to an asymmetric contraction of an internal fiber ribbon of specialized cells, causing loops to be added when pulled apart instead of unwinding.

Antennules of the spiny lobster trap water to identify odors using chemosensory hairs.

The valves of the Atlantic razor clam reduce drag and the amount of energy required to reach burrow depth by contracting to locally fluidize the surrounding soil.

Thousands of octopuses nurture their eggs in hydrothermal vent communities by utilizing warmth for energy-efficient development.

The thick layer of low-density, subcutaneous tissue of the ocean sunfish enables rapid depth changes by having a incompressible, gelatinous composition.

The cuticular wax of the dwarf mountain pine enhances photosynthesis by using fluorophores that convert UV light into blue light that can be used for photosynthesis, even under low-light conditions.

Snow algae protects against UV damage via a red carotenoid pigment.