This summer might have been cold, wet and windy where I live, but the summer has been marked as another year with record-breaking heat across the globe, from China to North Africa and North America to parts of Europe. July was the hottest month on record since 1880; see NASA. Thus, the need for ways to cool things is a top priority. We need to find ways to cool buildings more efficiently. Elephant skin has inspired biomimicrists to develop designs that help keep buildings well-ventilated and cool.
Desert snails!
You might be surprised to find snails in the desert. Biologists have found live specimens of the desert snail withdrawn in their shells on the surface in mid-summer. The shells were fully exposed to the harsh sun and heat, protecting the snail against the sun. The desert snail can survive temperatures up to 70 degrees C, and it may not rain for years.
During the hot days in the desert, the snail retreats into the upper whorl of the shell. The temperature is cooler there, but it is important that the snail does not fill the whole whorl and leaves most of the largest whorl filled with air. The surface of their shells is reflective, meaning that the snail does not heat up to the same temperature as the soil surface. The reflectance of these desert snails is about 90%.
In hot, dry climates, a curved surface maintains lower temperatures. It also reflects more radiation than flat surfaces. Students can study architecture in hot climates and make models of their own cool houses. White coatings and tiles could be used to mimic the desert snail’s shell.
Discover, Explore, Create & Evaluate!
Sources
- AskNature, Shell Protects From Heat
- Ecology and Evolution, Snails in the sun: Strategies of terrestrial gastropods
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.
2 thoughts on “Managing Heat – Inspiration from Nature”