How the Natural World is Inspiring Scientific Innovation
Starred review from August 1, 2022
Science journalist Hamilton debuts with an impressive look at the myriad human innovations that have been derived from animals and plants. With a breezy prose style, Hamilton explains how the lobster, whose eye “is 256 times more powerful at catching beams of light in the dark than a human eye is in daylight,” inspired the idea for “a telescope that could catch X-rays millions of light-years away.” Scientists looking to develop nontoxic waterproof glue, meanwhile, turned to blue mussels, which stick to surfaces with a natural adhesive; a study of a venomous reptile’s blood sugar levels resulted in a “synthetic lizard-inspired medication” for diabetics; and the structure of a pomegranate influenced the design for lithium-ion batteries. Hamilton concludes with a call to protect the planet: rather than creating “continued heaps of waste depleted resources,” she urges people to “see ourselves as guardians” of nature rather than its “conquerors.” Her tour is enhanced by a healthy dose of humor (of lobsters, she writes, “it’s easy to judge a creature that urinates out of its face”) and amusing accounts of her fieldwork, which on one occasion involved following an ant for over half an hour. Fans of Helen Scales won’t want to miss this.