Finding Strenght in Nature (1 of 2)

Nature does not cease to amaze scientist. In fact, a number of scientific explorations are geared toward mimicking nature to solve scientific problems. Mathematical models and computer simulations are even formulated to predict how physical and biological systems work.

In all these, scientists use both fundamental and advanced knowledge of the basic sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics) to achieve their goals.

For instance, Buckminster Fuller (to whom the buckyball or buckminsterfullerene was named after) is one inventor who introduced the conception of tensegrity structures. In nature, tensegrity (tensional integrity) is exemplified by a spiderweb.

Just imagine how formidable these webs are to a spider’s prey. No amount of wriggling an kicking can, free the poor prey from becoming dinner to the crafty spider. In a way, spiders are engineers, because they construct their webs with such precision—though these animals don’t have to study tension and compression forces in building their webs to withstand mechanical forces.Today, we see and recognized tensegrity structures in toys, machines, and even among molecules. What is so amazing about these structures is that both stability and resiliency are borne out of the structures’ internal balance. The strength of the structure lies in the collective effort of the fibers or segments that make up the entire unit.