Want a NOOK? Explore Now
From the frontiers of scientific discovery, researchers are now taking design elements from the natural world and creating extraordinary breakthroughs that benefit our health, our quality of life, our ability to communicate, and even help us work more efficiently.
An exciting look at cutting-edge scientific advances, Discovery of Design highlights incredible examples that include:
How things like batteries, human organ repair, microlenses, automotive engineering, paint, and even credit card security all have links to natural designs
Innovations like solar panels in space unfurled using technology gleaned from beech tree leaves, and optic research rooted in the photonic properties of opal gemstones
Current and future research from the fields of stealth technology, communications, cosmetics, nanotechnology, surveillance, and more!
Take a fantastic journey into the intersection of science and God's blueprints for life - discovering answers to some of the most intricate challenges we face. Experience this powerful apologetics message-in a multi-purpose resource as a personal enrichment tool or as an educational supplement.
Introduction 9
1 Microorganisms 11
Bacteria - Micro-motor
Bacteria - Battery
Biofilm - Bacteria Control
Diatom - Nanotechnology
Protein - Solar Cells
2 The Insect World 23
Ants - Airlines
Asian Beetle - Paper Whitener
Bombardier Beetle - Gas Turbine Engine
Butterfly - Cosmetics
Dragonfly - Surveillance
Firefly - Light Stick
Fly - Hearing Aid
Honeybee - Surveillance
Insect Hearing - Atomic Force Microscope
Insects - Robotics
Namib Beetle - Water Collector
Spider Silk - Fiber Optics
Termite Mound - Ventilation
Timber Beetle Larva - Chainsaw
Wasp - Paper
Water Strider - Water Repellant
3 Flight 57
Bat - Sonar Systems
Bird Flight - Aircraft
Flying Reptile - Delta Wing Aircraft
Kingfisher - Bullet Train
Owl Wing - Noise Reduction
Swift - Aircraft Wings
Toucan Beak - Shock Absorber
4 Underwater Life 73
Boxfish - Automobile Design
Brittlestar - Microlens
Cuttlefish - Camouflage
Elephant Nose Fish - Electric Sensor
Fish Motion - Ship Propulsion
Lobster Eye - Telescope Lens
Mussels - Adhesive
Octopus - Robotics
Seashell - Construction Material
Sea Slug - Chemicals
Sea Sponge - Fiber Optics
Whale - Submarine
5 Land Animals 99
Ankylosaurus - Fiberglass
Antler - Organ Repair
Dog Paw - Shoe Soles
Gecko - Adhesive
Giraffe - Antigravity Spacesuit
Horse Bone - Construction
Penguin Eye - Sunglasses
Tree Frog - Automobile Tires
6 People 117
Body Odor - Insect Repellant
DNA - Computer Memory
Eardrum - Earphone
Eye Iris - Identification
Fibrin - Elastic
Fingerprint - Prosthetic Hand
Leg Bone - Eiffel Tower
Muscles - Robotics
Saliva - Healing
Skin - Self-repairing Plastic
ToothEnamel - Armor Coating
Vernix - Skin Cream
7 Vegetation 143
Beech Leaf - Space Antenna
Chemicals - Medicine
Cocklebur - Velcro
Fava Bean - Valve
Fescue Grass - Herbicide
Lotus Flower - Surface Cleaner
Osage Orange - Barbed Wire
Pine Cone - Smart Clothes
Rubber Tree - Automobile Tires
Skunk Cabbage - Thermostat
Spinach - Solar Cell
Venus Flytrap - Food Packaging
Water Lily - Construction
Wild Wheat - Humidity Sensor
8 Nonliving Objects 175
Buckyballs - Micro Ball Bearings
Nanoparticles - Water Purifier
Opal - Photonic Device
Pulsar - Time Standard
Water Flow - Impeller
Conclusion 186
Appendix: Answers to Chapter Questions 188
General References 224
Glossary 226
Subject Index 229
About the Authors 233
MarineCorpsNomads
Posted September 27, 2010
Man has often looked to nature to get design ideas. The Wright Brothers studied birds to help in their airplane designs. Scientists are constantly studying animals to try to learn how to replicate certain traits to help man. Quite interesting that we're studying animals, plants, and even bacteria even though we are suppose to be at the top of the evolutionary ladder. Makes you think, doesn't it?
Discovery of Design is an interesting look into the relationships between nature and man. It shows how designs in nature can be used to create or build useful technology. Within the book's pages, you will find a very real message that speaks of The Creator and His master plan. As the intricacy of His marvelous designs are revealed, you can't help but marvel at the wondrous design of even the tiniest of microbes.
Do you know how giraffes have helped scientists learn how to control blood circulation in astronaut spacesuits, or how dragonflies helped inspire better designs in modern surveillance aircraft? These are the types of things that readers will learn about as they read Discovery of Design.
Each correlation between the natural element and man's design (or possible future design) is followed by a series of questions to help the reader dive deeper into that specific study. An answer key is provided at the end of the book for ease of use. Discovery of Design can be read slowly and used as a springboard for deeper studies into the subject presented, or it can be a fun read as a glimpse into how technology often relies on nature. Whether readers use it as a study tool, as an educational supplement, or just as an entertaining book, they will walk away with a better understanding of the intricate nature of God's design.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Master Books/New Leaf Publishing to help facilitate the writing of this review. All opinions are my own.
As a blogger for the New Leaf Publishing Group I recently had the opportunity to read Discovery of Design- Searching Out the Creator's Secrets, by Donald DeYoung and Derrik Hobbs, published by Master Books. This 233 page, trade paperback is full of trivia syle scientific facts as well as black and white photographs on each page. Marketed as an applied science text/ religious education book, this easy to read fact filled book can either be read cover to cover or by individual topic. There are eight main sections dedicated to microorganisms, insectsflight, vegitation, underwater life and land animals- to name a few. Within each section, something from the natural world is compared to a man-made invention. For example, the complexity of the dragonfly is the inspriation behind modern man made surveillance technologies. The inherent complexities of spider silk is analogous to the man made technology of fiber optics. There are several examples of the natural ingenuity of God's creation and how this is used to inspire complex man made invention; hence the subtitle, "Searching Out the Creator's Secrets". Chapter questions as well as a gloassary are included in the back of the book. While not intended as a stand alone science text, this book perhaps would make a good supplimental text perhaps. This book isnt extremely technical and is reminscent of a book of scientific trivia facts that may be appreciated by a young reader who has an interest in scientific facts. As a blogger I recieved this book for the purposes of writing a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.glorifythelord
Posted January 25, 2010
Discovery of Design is a book that is an easy read, yet very informative. Packed in-between these 233 pages are a wealth of information just waiting to be accessed. The eight fact filled chapters are set up basically by the division of animal, i.e. Microorganisms, flight, insects, etc. The basic overall topic of the book is how man has used nature to develop products for the betterment of mankind. From Velcro to Surveillance vehicles, it is covered in this fun and informative book. Each topic within a chapter is only two pages long, which would make this book a good choice for a different type of devotional. At the end of each topic is a set of questions, these questions are great for the student in your life. At the end of the book you can find the answers to the questions asked under each topic.
Being a teacher myself, I feel that this resource would be wonderful to use in a home school environment. And for the public school student, this would give them something to counteract the suffocation of anything that has to do with God and give them the tools needed to defend their faith in a challenging and increasingly anti Christian world.
Overview
From the frontiers of scientific discovery, researchers are now taking design elements from the natural world and creating extraordinary breakthroughs that benefit our health, our quality of life, our ability to communicate, and even help us work more efficiently.
An exciting look at cutting-edge scientific advances, Discovery of Design highlights incredible examples that include:
How things like batteries, ...