On the eighth day of August
we saved eight elegant zebras.
Black and white stripes. For years, scientists thought this striking pattern worked like a natural air conditioner — the idea was that the black stripes warm up in the sun faster than the white ones, creating tiny air currents that cool the zebra down
It’s a wonderful idea. But more recent research has actually put it to the test — and the cooling effect doesn’t seem to hold up. Careful experiments comparing striped and solid-colored models found no real difference in body temperature. Today, most scientists think the stripes’ main job is probably something else entirely: confusing and deterring biting flies.
So the science changed. But here’s the thing about a good “what if” — it doesn’t need the original fact to stay true forever. What if a building had a skin that did work the way we once imagined zebra stripes did?
“Skins” are used in architecture. The skins help to regulate the temperature and provide a surface that can clean itself, collect water and harvest energy.
Modern skyscrapers often use glass, but
What if a skyscraper could have a breathable skin that adapts to different weather conditions without using air-conditioning or central heating?
So we invented a “skin” for a school. A school with a zebra-inspired eco skin could be built by using a structural frame with a self-cleaning surface. The school would use little energy and be perfectly warm on a cold morning and cool and a hot day.
Wonder Question
Are zebras horses?
A zebra looks like a sturdy horse, but is it a horse?
Some things that we noticed
- Like horses, zebras walk, trot, canter and gallop.
- Zebras do not have a hairy tail like a horse.
- The mane of a zebra always stands straight up but it does not on a horse.
- Most horses have longer legs than bodies but a zebra looks more like a pony.
A zebra is a species of wild horse that lives in Africa. But zebras are not merely striped horses; they are a different species from the horse. The Equidae family includes zebras, horses, and asses.
Zebras look like horses but are not horses.
This question led to a discussion about appearances and school uniforms.
School uniforms are designed to be unique, just like the stripes on the zebras are unique.
But they are not designed to be warm and cool at the same time. Here, we identified the problem with school uniforms to help us get new ideas.
What if we could design the perfect school uniform?
A unique school uniform that does not look like a school uniform and that protects schoolchildren from the heat and the cold.
But then we identified a problem: school uniforms are filled with traditions, and it would indeed be difficult to persuade headmistresses and masters to change to a cool school uniform.
This thought made a frame for our problem. We needed to think about a way to make a school uniform that protects from the heat as well as the cold, but it does not really stand out.
What if we could design something small? Like a pair of school socks?
MIT researchers have invented a new type of workout material that can breathe. Go here to read more about the “breathable workout suit” covered in small flaps.
Mind Map
Sources
- Scientific Reports, Experimental evidence that stripes do not cool zebras
- Scientific Reports, A new argument against cooling by convective air eddies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.