What is “Biomimetics?”

Bulletproof feathers certainly sound like a strange idea, but actually scientists are studying how one can create a bulletproof fabric that remains comfortable and flexible until the wearer is in danger, then harden to offer protection.  Join editor Robert Allen in Bulletproof feathers : how science uses nature’s secrets to design cutting-edge technology as he explores the world of biomimetics – technology that mimics nature.  One example of this science already in evidence is the cooling system of a giant termite mound and its resemblance to the way ventilation works in a modern skyscraper.  Allen gathers a variety of scientists in this field to bring their expertise to bear on what sounds to us like science fiction, but may soon be reality.  Selections include information on human-like robots, sonar, and cooperative behavior.