Can you rethink the way burglar alarms work?
The creepy-looking devil’s fingers sparked the idea. Looks are important, but for this nature-inspired idea, the smells that the fungi release are more crucial for the alarm to work.
A burglar alarm usually works by making a loud noise. The focus is on sending a message to the world that someone is committing a crime.
But what is you could design an alarm that scares the burglar away? This idea popped up as we were making sketches of the fascinating fungi in our Biomimicry Journal.
What if something smelly and creepy could pop up in front of a potential burglar? Preventing crimes is so much better!
Our idea is that little balls are placed around the house, and if you are not at home, the person has x minutes to leave the house before the creepy fingers crawl up, releasing disgusting smells. And there is no point in wearing a mask because this device is too smart and will simply reach the potential burglar’s nose anyway.
Always explore the risks with your ideas. Here is the risk that the balls are released by mistake, so that when you enter your home you are greeted by a horrible smell and creepy fingers. But we could overcome this problem by designing an app. So the little clever balls can learn to recognise you and your friends.
If you are aspiring to become a great inventor, you will also see the potential of making a mask that prevents smells from entering the nose. But whoever buys this device could be tracked or identified before they have a chance to commit a crime. What would this device look like?
What ideas do you get when you look at a devil’s finger?
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.
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