长篇阅读之科技篇：科技与自然.doc

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1、长篇阅读之科技篇：科技与自然　　Technologythatimitatesnature　　Biomimetics:Engineersareincreasinglytakingaleafoutofnature'sbookwhenlookingforsolutionstodesignproblems　　　　AFTERtakinghisdogforawalkonedayintheearly1940s,GeorgedeMestral,aSwissinventor,becamecuriousabouttheseedsoftheburdockplantthathadattach

2、edthemselvestohisclothesandtothedog'sfur.Underamicroscope,helookedcloselyatthehookandloopsystemthattheseedshaveevolvedtohitchhikeonpassinganimalsandaidpollination,andherealisedthatthesameapproachcouldbeusedtojoinotherthingstogether.TheresultwasVelcraproductthatwasarguablymorethanthreebi

3、llionyearsinthemaking,sincethatishowlongthenaturalmechanismthatinspiredittooktoevolve.　　Velcroisprobablythemostfamousandcertainlythemostsuccessfulexampleofbiologicalmimicry,or“biomimetics”.Infieldsfromroboticstomaterialsscience,technologistsareincreasinglyborrowingideasfromnature,andwit

4、hgoodreason:nature'sdesignshave,bydefinition,stoodthetestoftime,soitwouldbefoolishtoignorethem.Yettransplantingnaturaldesignsintomanmadetechnologiesisstillahitormissaffair.　　Engineersdependonbiologiststodiscoverinterestingmechanismsforthemtoexploit,saysJulianVincent,thedirectoroftheCent

5、reforBiomimeticandNaturalTechnologiesattheUniversityofBathinEngland.Soheandhiscolleagueshavebeenworkingonaschemetoenableengineerstobypassthebiologistsandtapintonature'singenuitydirectly,viaadatabaseof“biologicalpatents”.Theideaisthatthisdatabasewillletanyonesearchthroughawiderangeofbiol

6、ogicalmechanismsandpropertiestofindnaturalsolutionstotechnologicalproblems.　　Hownottoreinventthewheel　　Surelyhumanintellect,andthedeliberateapplicationofdesignknowledge,