CHAPTER 1 AROUND THE HOUSE An invention is a new product process or way of doing something Many inventions make certain jobs easier to do Others help solve specific problems One way inventors and scientists are solving problems is through biomimicry In this process scientists use nature as a guide First they observe patterns in nature Scientists of biomimicry study plants and animals in their labs 5
Then they create designs that are similar to nature’s designs Nature has inspired many everyday objects around the house For example in 2011 one inventor studied cats claws to create a safer thumbtack Regular tacks have sharp pins They are easy to drop on the floor where people can step on them The pins on the new tacks can be drawn in similar to the way a cat retracts its claws In this design a sheath covers the pin The sheath is made of a rubberlike plastic The pin stays tucked inside the sheath until pressed into a hard surface Other scientists studied the feet of geckos These small lizards can climb up 6
Cats extend their claws when they want to use them walls Geckos have stiff tendons on their toe pads These tendons help the gecko grip surfaces Geckos toe pads also have millions of tiny hairs To climb the gecko places its toe pad on a surface When it pulls the toe back the hairs stick to the surface The hairs unstick when the gecko pulls in a different direction 7
