Featured Strategies: Cooling Down 1 of 24
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Small leaves buffer ambient temperature: sacred datura
Small leaves of sacred datura plants buffer ambient thermal variation more efficiently than large leaves due to a smaller boundary layer, allowing higher amounts of transpiration.
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Temperature |
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Branches protected from the sun: quiver tree
The branches of a quiver tree are protected from the heat of the sun by a reflective coating of white powder.
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Temperature |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Capture and transfer of UV radiation for photovoltaic applications, UV reflectors incorporated into windows in buildings and autos, UV reflective coatings, sunscreen. |
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Carotid rete cools brain: Thomson's gazelle
The carotid rete of the Thomson's gazelle cools its brain via counter-current heat exchange.
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Homeostasis |
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Ventilated nests remove heat and gas: mound-building termites
Mounds of macrotermitine termites maintain homeostasis through tunnels, chimneys, and use of wind creating pressure fields.
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Gases |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Use for low-cost ventilation of buildings. |
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Features enhance cooling effect: shade trees
The cooling effects of shade trees in subtropical regions are most influenced by foliage density, leaf thickness, leaf texture, and leaf color lightness.
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Skin fine-tunes internal temperature: African elephant
The skin of elephants allows them to fine-tune thermal regulation via 'hot spots', patches of skin that are highly vascularized.
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Homeostasis |
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Worm tolerates temperature gradient of 140 deg F: Pompeii worm
Pompeii worms tolerate the steepest temperature gradient on the planet using multiple strategies.
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Temperature |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Develop materials that maintain their integrity over a wide temperature range. |
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Body buffers thermal variations: sea star
The body of sea stars helps buffer thermal variations experienced in low tide by taking up and storing cold sea water during high tide.
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Homeostasis |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Buffer temperature fluctuations in buildings, computer equipment by adding a fluid. |
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Bark keeps surface cool under the sun: trees
Bark of trees keeps surface cool by minimizing absorption of solar light and maximizing thermal emission
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Large ears used to cool off: jackrabbit
The large ears of the jack rabbit are used in cooling, radiating heat via an extensive network of blood vessels.
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Temperature |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Heat collectors for buildings that are raised for nighttime cooling, building designs that funnel excess heat to a single room, extendable parts to cool electronics in sleep mode. |
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Waxy coating protects from heat and drought: euphorbia
The stems of euphorbias protect from heat and drought via their hard waxy surface.
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Temperature |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Buildings designed to stay cool in hot climates, incorporating euphorbia traits into crop seeds for arid, drought-prone climates. |
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Shell protects from heat: desert snail
The shell of some desert snails helps them survive extreme heat using light reflectance and architecturally-derived, insulating layers of air.
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Temperature |
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Cactus hides from the sun: mescal cactus
The shoot of the mescal cactus adapts to seasonal water availability via dehydration-induced shrinking below the desert floor, and hydration-induced swelling to reemerge after rainfall.
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Loss of liquids |
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Managing high temperatures: tenrecs
Tenrecs survive hot summer weather by entering a state of dormancy called estivation.
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Temperature |
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Sweating aids thermoregulation: mammals
The sweat glands of many mammals aid thermoregulation through evaporative cooling.
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Homeostasis |
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Water collection cools hive: honeybee
Honeybees cool the hive by collecting water, spreading it, and fanning to increase evaporation.
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Temperature |
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Secretion protects skin: hippopotamus
A secretion of the hippopotamus protects its skin from the sun and bacteria thanks to two pigments that absorb UV light and have antibiotic properties.
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Light |
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Foreleg licking cools skin: red kangaroo
Forelegs of red kangaroos facilitate evaporative heat loss by having a special anastomosing network of superficial vessels cooled by licking.
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Temperature |
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Bill used as heat exchanger for thermoregulation: toco toucan
Bill of toco toucan acts as a heat exchanger to regulate body temperature by adjusting blood flow
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Gular fluttering dissipates heat: nightjars
The gular sack of nightjars helps to dissipate heat efficiently by vibrating.
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Homeostasis |
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Water absorbed from humid air: brown dog tick
The mouths of ticks absorb water vapor from the atmosphere by secreting a hydrophilic solution.
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Liquids |
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Shape shades and enhances heat radiation: cactus
Cacti stay cool by having ribs that provide shade and enhance heat radiation.
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Temperature |
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Cuticle acts as cooling mechanism: Oriental hornet
The cuticle of wasps provides a cooling mechanism by use of hairs, thin layers, and tracheal branches.
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Temperature |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Biomimetic cooling system. |
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Burrow shape creates ventilation: prairie dog
Burrows of black-tailed prairie dogs create own ventilation by causing a lower air pressure that pulls stale air out of the burrow.
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Gases |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Use for passive ventilation system in buildings and vehicles. Induce air to run through ground system for heating or cooling- by adjusting the shape of the tube. Constantly sample air or fluid through a induced flow sensor. |
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