image copyrightGetty ImagesWhat do the bullet train and the kingfisher bird have in common?Pyramids, skyscrapers, and supersonic flight are just a few of the ways humanity has demonstrated its ingenuity and technical prowess over the past few millennia.However, nature, particularly through the evolutionary process known as natural selection, has the benefit of millions of years of trial and error perfecting its design.That is why it is logical that humans resort to it to design technology.This type of innovation that emulates nature is called biomimetic design, and it has inspired many of our best creations, from trains to buildings.Here are our six favorite examples.Japan is famous for the incredible speed and efficiency of its trains.However, when the famous bullet train began to circulate, they realized that there was a huge problem: with its speed of 300 km/h, every time it emerged from a tunnel it generated a roar that could be heard 400 meters away.The train compressed the air in the tunnel in such a way that, as it exited, it produced a great explosion of sound.image copyrightGetty ImagesTraveling at 300 km/h, Shinkansen trains compressed the air in the tunnels and produced a sonic boom as they exited.Local residents protested the noise pollution and authorities were forced to fix the problem on Japan's high-speed rail network, or Shinkansen.The answer came from the hand of Eiji Nakatsu, who in addition to being an engineer, is fond of birds.The Nakatsu train, which opened in 1997, featured a redesign of the front end inspired by the streamlined beak of the kingfisher.But he also implemented improvements inspired by the feathers of owls, birds known for their silent flight, and the abdomen of the Adelie penguin, which glides with minimal resistance in the water.The humpback whale weighs 36 tons, but is one of the most graceful swimmers, divers and jumpers in the sea.As biomechanist Frank Fish demonstrated 15 years ago, these dynamic abilities are largely due to jagged bumps on the front of their fins, called tubercles.image copyrightGetty ImagesStudying humpback whales, Fish discovered a way to design more stable planes, more agile submarines, and turbines capable of capturing more energy from wind and water.Just like airplane wings, whales set their fins at different pitch angles to increase rate of climb.However, if you tilt them too much, they get suspended.By comparing the smooth side to the bumpy side, Fish found that it was possible to design more stable planes, more agile submarines, and turbines capable of capturing more energy from wind and water.In 2008, Fish founded WhalePower, an Ontario, Canada-based company that develops a range of blade-related technology products, including wind and hydroelectric turbines, and ventilation and irrigation pumps.In 1948, Swiss engineer George de Mestral was walking in the woods with his dog when he noticed the tenacity with which thistles clung to his clothes and to the hair of his pet.Putting one of these burrs under the microscope, he noticed that they were covered with small flexible hooks.These hooks had the ability to cling to anything that had curves or loops, from clothing fabric to dog fur.image copyrightGetty ImagesOne fabric with hooks and one with loops: that's the secret that Velcro took from thistles.De Mestral then developed a new closure system made up of two fabrics: one with small hooks and the other with small loops.In other words, he invented the now ubiquitous Velcro, a neologism derived from the French words velours ("velvet") and crochet ("hook").The Eastgate Center in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, is the largest example of biomimicry on a large scale.It is the largest shopping and office center in the country.It uses unconventional heating and cooling systems that regulate the temperature throughout the year.For this, architect Mick Pearce was inspired by the ingenious structure of termite mounds.These mounds stay cool because they have a ventilation system made up of ducts that open and close, thus regulating air currents.The building uses a similar process, allowing it to use 10% of the energy used by other similarly sized buildings, according to Pearce on his website.image copyrightMick PearceOn his website, Mick Pearce shared an image of the Eastgate Center and the nature studies he did to design it.It is estimated that 100 million birds die annually from crashing into glass.The reason is obvious: they are unable to recognize that the transparent structure is a physical barrier.To solve this problem, the German company Arnold Glas developed Ornilux, a type of glass inspired by how the threads of spider webs reflect ultraviolet light, something that birds see and avoid.By analyzing the biological processes of shark skin, NASA scientists were able to replicate its texture, which resembles tiny scales.Thus, they created a material that reduces aerodynamic resistance and prevents bacteria from adhering to its surface.This is very useful for the hull of ships or submarines.It also has environmental benefits because it helps conserve energy and saves money by reducing aerodynamic drag.When this is achieved in an aircraft, even just 1%, 94,000 liters of fuel can be saved per year.​*This note was created based on an article by Gertie Goddard published by BBC Science Focus.Now you can receive notifications from BBC World.Download the new version of our app and activate it so you don't miss out on our best content.© 2022 BBC.The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Read about our stance on external links.