- physical or behavioral trait that helps plants and animals survive in their environment
aerodynamic
- having a smooth, even shape that offers the least resistance to air currents or movement
air pressure
- the force exerted on a surface by the air above it, or the pressure of air in a compressed space
antibiotic
- having properties that kill microbes
architect
- a person who designs buildings
B
bacteria
- tiny, single-celled living organisms that are found throughout nature and in our bodies; some are helpful, some are harmful
bioinspiration
- being inspired by biological structures or processes to design or create something
biomimetics
- the imitation of natural biological designs or processes in engineering or invention
biomimicry
- the science of learning from and imitating strategies and forms found in nature to solve human problems
byproducts
- something that results from an action intended for another purpose
C
camouflage
- coloring or pattern that allows a person or animal to blend in with its surroundings
contamination
- to make dirty, to pollute or make unusable by adding a substance that doesn’t belong
conventional
- the usual, common way things are done
D
drag
- resistance or force that slows down the movement of an object through water or air. As the object pushes the water or air out of its way, the drag force pushes back on the object in the opposite direction.
E
echolocation
- the process of locating objects by emitting sounds and hearing them echoed; the ability to determine the distance and direction of unseen objects by hearing returning echoes
ecosystem
- a community of living organisms in a given area interacting with each other and the non-living environment
F
food chain
- the order in which organisms depend on each other for food, a series of living things where each serves as food for the next
friction
- the resistance of a surface to motion, as when an object slides or rolls over it -- such as the body of a snake sliding over rocky ground
H
hexagon
- six-sided shape
I
immune system
- a collection of cells and organs that protects the body from disease
innovation
- a new idea, product, or way to do something
inspiration
- something or someone that motivates or sparks someone to act
insulate
- to cover, line, or surround with a material that reduces or stops the movement of heat or sound
L
light waves
- a form of moving energy made up of tiny particles called photons; radiation in the form of a wave
M
microbe
- microscopic organisms, some of which are harmful to humans, that can only be seen through a microscope
mimic
- copy or imitate
N
navigate
- to find your way around in or make your way through
nerve cells
- special cells called neurons that carry messages from one part of the body to another; for example, nerve cells send information from your senses to your brain indicating pain
O
optics
- the science of the properties of light
P
pectoral fins
- two fins located on either side of a fish, used to control direction of movement
photosynthesis
- the process by which a green plant uses sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to create food for itself
pigment
- natural substance that serves to provide color in plants or animals
pollution
- the introduction of harmful materials into an environment where they do damage to the air, water, or land
proboscis
- a tubular sucking structure on some insects or worms
prosthetic
- an artificial body part that usually replaces a missing limb
prototype
- an original model or first version of a new product on which later forms or improvements are based
R
replicate
- to duplicate, copy or repeat
S
sediment
- solid material that settles to the bottom of a body of water
solar energy
- energy that comes from the sun
spherical
- shaped like a sphere or a ball
sustainable
- able to maintain and continue; able to live and interact with the environment without depleting natural resources
synthetic
- made with non-natural materials; man-made; not found in nature
T
terrain
- ground or land and its natural surface features
toxin
- a poisonous or hazardous substance produced by living things
turbulence
- chaotic motion or disturbance of air or water
U
ultraviolet
- light waves that are beyond the spectrum of visible light; although humans can’t see ultraviolet light, some organisms can
