Scientists and engineers are getting some wild ideas from the wild kingdom
Speedy swimsuit takes its cue from shark skin
Swimmer Michael Phelps won a record-breaking eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, a feat primarily chalked up to his years of training and physical gifts. But his Speedo swimsuit, fashioned with fabric inspired by the shape and texture of sharkskin, may have provided an edge. The skin of a shark varies in roughness that corresponds with variations in the flow of water over its body. Speedo started incorporating the design into their swimsuits in 2000. The most recent iteration, the Fastskin LZR Racer, was worn by 89 percent of all medal winners in the Beijing swimming competitions, including Phelps.
Check out nine more innovations inspired by nature:
Gecko glue: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-gecko-glue
Sea cucumber plastic: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-sea-cucumber-plastic
Jet sprayers: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-jet-sprayers
Drones: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-drones
Repellant materials: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-repellant-materials
Bullet trains: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-bullet-train
Fishy armor: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-fishy-armor
Whiter whites: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-white-album
Boxfish-styled cars: www.happynews.com/inspired-innovations-boxfish-cars

© 2008 msnbc.com
Reproduced with permission of MSNBC, from Ten innovations inspired by nature by John Roach, October 21, 2008; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.

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