The world is poorly designed. But copying nature helps

Biomimicry design, explained with 99 Invisible. Check them out here: Subscribe to our channel here: Japans Shinkansen doesnt look like your typical train. With its long and pointed nose, it can reach top speeds up to 150200 miles per hour. It didnt always look like this. Earlier models were rounder and louder, often suffering from the phenomenon of tunnel boom, where deafening compressed air would rush out of a tunnel after a train rushed in. But a moment of inspiration from engineer and birdwatcher Eiji Nakatsu led the system to be redesigned based on the aerodynamics of three species of birds. Nakatsus case is a fascinating example of biomimicry, the design movement pioneered by biologist and writer Janine Benyus. She s a cofounder of the Biomimicry Institute, a nonprofit encouraging creators to discover how big challenges in design, engineering, and sustainability have often already been solved throu