A hollow in an old tree looks like a hole, but for a squirrel, an owl or a bat, it can be a shelter from heatwaves and cold snaps, and it does this with no wiring, no fuel and no maintenance. New research suggests just how well these hidden chambers work. It might change howContinueContinue reading “The Secret Air Conditioning Inside Every Old Tree”
Tag Archives: Climate change
Beachcombing Bladderwrack, Revisited: What’s Changed on the Shore?
Ahh, the smell of the sea again. Sunday took me back to the same stretch of beach where, six years ago, I first wrote about bladderwrack and its curious air bubbles. Same tide line, same sand, same seaweed washed up in dark, glistening clumps. I found myself crouching over another cluster almost without thinking —ContinueContinue reading “Beachcombing Bladderwrack, Revisited: What’s Changed on the Shore?”
Fire Doesn’t End the Story — It Turns the Page
Picture a landscape after a wildfire has passed through. Blackened trunks. Grey ash where undergrowth used to be. Smoke still hanging low over the hills. Most of us look at that scene and see an ending. Nature disagrees. This is what wildfires can teach children about patience, timing, and turning crisis into opportunity — threeContinueContinue reading “Fire Doesn’t End the Story — It Turns the Page”
The Fire Beetle Sees What’s Coming: Adaptive Teaching in the Age of AI
A practical guide for educators to blend biomimicry, AI literacy, and climate resilience in the classroom. While most creatures flee from wildfire, the Australian fire beetle races toward it. This remarkable insect possesses infrared sensors so sensitive that it can detect a burning tree from 80 km (50 miles) away. But here’s what makes itContinueContinue reading “The Fire Beetle Sees What’s Coming: Adaptive Teaching in the Age of AI”
Learning from Living Systems: Four More Nature-Inspired Climate Assignments for the Age of Connection
In nature, life learns and adapts through relationships – every living system is shaped by its interactions with others and the world around it. A forest exchanges knowledge underground through its mycorrhizal threads, coral reefs build strength through countless tiny collaborations, and a flock of birds finds its direction not by hierarchy, but through connection.ContinueContinue reading “Learning from Living Systems: Four More Nature-Inspired Climate Assignments for the Age of Connection”
Stop Trying to Block AI. Design Better Assignments Instead.
We spend too much time worrying about whether students are using AI – and not enough time asking why our assignments are so easily replaced by it. If ChatGPT, Claude, Aria, or Google Gemini can complete an assignment in thirty seconds, perhaps the problem isn’t with the students, or even the technology, but with theContinueContinue reading “Stop Trying to Block AI. Design Better Assignments Instead.”
How Biomimicry Can Be Used to Address Climate Change
What if the answers to our biggest climate challenges have already been solved, by nature? In this post, we’ll explore how biomimicry, design inspired by the strategies of living organisms, is helping to create innovative climate solutions. We’ll also look at how children can take part in this movement through storytelling, hands-on design challenges, and imaginative exploration. By learning from the resilience and ingenuity of the natural world, young minds can help shape a more sustainable future.
August in the Nature Classroom
Back to School Month! Or maybe we should call it Prepare for Back to School Month. Across the Northern Hemisphere, the timing of school commencement varies, with some starting in August while others begin in September. Back to School symbolises the excitement of learning! A fresh start filled with hopes and dreams. As we startContinueContinue reading “August in the Nature Classroom”
Nature Meets Urban: Creating Wildlife-Friendly Cities of the Future
Designing future cities requires a fundamental shift in perspective. We must actively integrate the needs of wildlife. Sometimes, curiosity is such a wonderful thing! What started as frustration with finding something interesting for a booklet about woodland animals and climate change ended with an eye-opening insight into ways of including wildlife in urban areas. WhatContinueContinue reading “Nature Meets Urban: Creating Wildlife-Friendly Cities of the Future”
How Can We Help Children Understand the Effects of Climate Change?
Creative and Critical Thinking about Climate Change Our climate is changing, and children worry about how these changes affect their lives. Climate change disproportionately impacts children, who are more vulnerable to its effects than adults due to their developing bodies and minds. Climate change also infringes on children’s rights to food, water, health care andContinueContinue reading “How Can We Help Children Understand the Effects of Climate Change?”
Awesome, Fascinating and Important – Inspired by Keystone Species
Nature needs our help now more than ever. This winter, make space for STEAM and biomimicry activities and create hope for the future. Our book on Keystone Species is now available – Paperback and Hardcover! Frequently Asked Questions What is biomimicry? Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what weContinueContinue reading “Awesome, Fascinating and Important – Inspired by Keystone Species”
The Night Flower – Saguaro Cactus
The saguaro cactus is a vital source of water in the desert; it functions like a living water barrel. This plant looks like an archetypical cactus with branches dramatically sticking out. Just like animals, plants can play a vital role as ecosystem engineers just like animals. The saguaro cactus is a unique keystone plant providingContinueContinue reading “The Night Flower – Saguaro Cactus”
June in the Nature Classroom
Welcome June with open arms! June is a month filled with interesting events and celebrations. The June solstice typically occurs around June 20th or 21st. This marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere). The thing I miss most about Sweden is the midnight sun. ItContinueContinue reading “June in the Nature Classroom”
Coral Art Projects
The vibrant colours, fascinating shapes and abundant life of a coral reef create a unique habitat that no other Earth habitat can rival. Capturing this kaleidoscope of colours is a remarkable and engaging activity! Here are some awesome art projects that can inspire your child’s creativity. Art is a powerful tool to send a strongContinueContinue reading “Coral Art Projects”
Coral Reef Ecosystem Engineers
Coral reefs provide a beautiful, as well as crucial, ecosystem for life underwater. Coral reefs act as ecosystem engineers, shaping their surroundings and influencing the entire ecosystem. If an ecosystem engineer disappears, the whole ecosystem may collapse. Coral reefs grow extremely slowly; consequently, it is vital to care for and protect these areas. It isContinueContinue reading “Coral Reef Ecosystem Engineers”
The Role of Glowing Corals in Reefs Conservation: Unveiling the Role of Underwater Gardens
A glowing fluorescent coral reef might initially sound like something beautiful, yet it is a sign of a last desperate move by corals to survive. Coral reefs are magnificent and magical underwater gardens. They are the underwater equivalent of the Amazon Rainforest, supporting a huge variety of animals. Coral reefs are made of tiny animalsContinueContinue reading “The Role of Glowing Corals in Reefs Conservation: Unveiling the Role of Underwater Gardens”
The World’s Plastic Pollution Crises in Our Oceans
Earth Day is celebrated globally on April 22nd. In 2024, the theme is Planet vs. Plastic, and the aim is to shift our attitudes and actions concerning plastic usage. Reducing plastic pollution is vital since it is becoming clearer the devasting impact that plastic pollution has on human and animal health and the overall ecologicalContinueContinue reading “The World’s Plastic Pollution Crises in Our Oceans”
Unveiling the Secrets: How the Smell of Coral Reefs Reveals Insights into Heat Stress?
Have you ever wondered what the smell of a coral reef can tell us about its well-being under heat stress? Do vibrant and healthy coral reefs emit a scent? If they do, what does it smell like? Biomimicry usually starts with our eyes — we notice a shape, a texture, a colour pattern, and askContinueContinue reading “Unveiling the Secrets: How the Smell of Coral Reefs Reveals Insights into Heat Stress?”
How Have the Arctic Bees Adapted to a Cold Climate? What happens when the Climate Changes?
How can a bumblebee survive in the cold Arctic Summer? Bombus polaris and Bombus pyrrhopygus, known as the Arctic bumblebees, live in northern Scandinavia, Canada, Russia, and the US state of Alaska. These are cold places, and surviving in them requires a greater effort to regulate their temperature. This insect might be a small animal,ContinueContinue reading “How Have the Arctic Bees Adapted to a Cold Climate? What happens when the Climate Changes?”
Sea Urchins & Kelp Forests
Below are a couple of videos about sea urchins. These global and spiny echinoderms are often very pretty, and they come in a variety of colours. They can be found on the sea beds of every ocean. Like most things in nature, balance is vital – and too many sea urchins can severely influence anContinueContinue reading “Sea Urchins & Kelp Forests”
Treescrapers for Kids
Yesterday, I posted a rather long blog post about Treescrapers. Here are some of our ideas. It is winter here, so not much material to collect in the garden. But we used what we found, and after all, it is the learning and ideas that are important. Frequently Asked Questions What is biomimicry? Biomimicry isContinueContinue reading “Treescrapers for Kids”
How to Design a Future Green City with Treescrapers
Treescrapers are skyscrapers that work like trees. The scrapers make oxygen, distil water, and produce energy. Let’s design a City with Treescrapers. In a previous blog post, “Cities that help saving our planet,” we explored two examples of green ideas for cities: the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and Bosco Verticale in Milan. InContinueContinue reading “How to Design a Future Green City with Treescrapers”
Sponges! How to design flood-resistant cities.
What is a sponge city? Sponges are known for their exceptional ability to absorb water. Sponge cities are designed to imitate the natural water cycle. The aim is to use green infrastructure to slow water and enhance ground absorption of water. By using, for example, green roofs, rain gardens, bioswales, parks and wetlands, the ideaContinueContinue reading “Sponges! How to design flood-resistant cities.”
Managing Heat – Inspiration from Nature
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 waysContinueContinue reading “Managing Heat – Inspiration from Nature”
Climate Change – What would Nature do?
Climate change is upsetting the balance – the balance in nature. When systems that have run smoothly on Earth for hundreds and even thousands of years face an imbalance, nature deals with the challenges. Sometimes, nature uses mutations, and sometimes, nature adapts to the changes. Animals and plants are ‘shapeshifting’ worldwide; their limbs, beaks, andContinueContinue reading “Climate Change – What would Nature do?”
Mermaid Purses
Beachcombing along the shoreline is exciting. You never know what you might find. If you are lucky enough, you might find a real treasure – a mermaid’s purse hiding among the seaweed. It is a bit mind-boggling to imagine that a shark or skate might have emerged from the egg case. The little pouches areContinueContinue reading “Mermaid Purses”
The Green Planet – Inspiration for Young Biomimicrists
What a spectacular programme! And great accompanying books. New camera techniques have made it possible to dive into the world of plants with images that really make you feel more connected to plants. The Green Planet shows plants like you have never seen them before – new and surprising insights. The series focuses on theContinueContinue reading “The Green Planet – Inspiration for Young Biomimicrists”
Inspiring Books about Climate Changes for Curious Readers
Below is a selection of books about Climate Change that are perfect for use at home or in the classroom. Biomimicrists believe that it is vital to explore solutions to problems, and the focus should always be on exploring how nature can inspire solutions and new innovations. Check out my materials for young children thatContinueContinue reading “Inspiring Books about Climate Changes for Curious Readers”
Penguin Superpowers – Brillant Ways to Survive
Penguins, like all animals and plants, have developed brilliant ways to survive. Penguins can be found in cold as well as warm climates. They deal with the climate challenges in different ways; penguin chicks in Antarctica learn to skate on the ice, whereas Galápagos penguin chicks are masters of sliding on rocks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQquEh6zQ5c&feature=emb_logo https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=99&v=qbtIUK_F-I0&feature=emb_logo ChangesContinueContinue reading “Penguin Superpowers – Brillant Ways to Survive”
New Challenges, New Adventures
The dream was to write a series of books about Theo & Tuva, and now the outline for the second book is taking shape. 2020 has been a year filled with challenges; new challenges, but also old familiar problems have been lurking in the background. Greta Thunberg and young climate activists have not given up,ContinueContinue reading “New Challenges, New Adventures”
Books that Inspire Creative Thinking and Environmental Responsibility
“We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past and you will ignore us again. We have run out of excuses and we are running out of time. We have come here to let you know that change is coming whether you like it or not.ContinueContinue reading “Books that Inspire Creative Thinking and Environmental Responsibility”
Bushfires and Biomimicry
A dangerous summer is unfolding in Australia, and so far millions, even billions, of animals have lost their lives in raging bushfires. Bushfires are common in Australia so animals and plants have developed various ways to survive and reproduce. This year, the bushfires are not normal; hundreds of fires are burning, and the links toContinueContinue reading “Bushfires and Biomimicry”
Climate Change and Biomimicry
Can we capture carbon using plants and animals as strategic tools in our climate toolbox?. The global climate is changing, and the focus is often on decreasing the output of greenhouse gases via technologies or ideas such as carbon offsets or carbon taxes. Yet, reducing the emission of carbon is only one idea. We couldContinueContinue reading “Climate Change and Biomimicry”
Board Games for a Curious Biomimicrist
This post contains ad links. Summer and Board Games! Evolution Board Game, Climate Board Game and Evolution: The Beginner Board Game are great games for children who love nature. The first two games are suitable for slightly older children. The games come from North Star Games, and they have quickly become very popular games. TheContinueContinue reading “Board Games for a Curious Biomimicrist”
Slugs are Cool
Would it not be great if you could smell with your body just like a slug? Slugs are everywhere! And gooey slime is a wonderful substance that can solve many problems. Britain has ideal conditions for slugs to thrive – cool, damp summers and warmish, mild, wet winters. Climate change also contributes to turning ourContinueContinue reading “Slugs are Cool”
Climate Smart Fairy Houses
Nowadays even fairies need to be climate-smart. So we built climate-smart houses for the fairies that live in our garden. We got inspiration from studying cones. Pine cones open and close depending on the level of moisture in the air. The scales of pine cones open in hot and dry weather and close in wetContinueContinue reading “Climate Smart Fairy Houses”