Believe it or not, nature came up with the ideas behind many of the greatest inventions of the modern world. Discover what made inventors get creative!<BR><BR>Look inside a high-rise built entirely by insects!<BR><BR>See plant seeds that do their own digging!<BR><BR>Wonder at how many different ways there are to fly!<BR><BR>Is modern technology a human invention---or did nature get there first?<BR><BR>Discover how much of human technology was inspired by---or even directly copied from---nature!<BR><BR>Almost every technological solution that people have produced has already been "invented" by nature. How many technologies might never have come about had it not been for humans' direct observation of animals, plants, and the rest of the natural world? This fascinating book explains the principles behind nature's solutions to various problems and how they parallel the technologies we use in our daily lives.<BR><BR>Birds flew the skies long before airplanes were invented, plant burs are amazingly similar to Velcro fastenings, rattlesnakes have an alarm system, leaves are the original solar cells, and dolphins have their own form of sonar. Nature is full of amazing designs that have inspired us to explore, build, and create. Packed with compelling illustrations and photography, this book shows you how and why we learn from the world around us.