The development of human flight was aided and inspired by observing birds. In the late 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci’s studies of birds led him to create conceptual designs of flying machines that would influence later aerial development. At the turn of the 20th century, the Wright brothers similarly drew inspiration from the flight of birds as they were designing the shape of their record-breaking aircraft. We can learn much when we look to nature.
The natural world tells us something of God as well (Ps. 19:1–4, Rom. 1:19–20). It reveals that it’s the handiwork of a masterful Creator. We see this when we look to the animals—the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea. When we look to the world of living things, we learn of God’s wisdom.
Consider the fields of bioinspiration and biomimetics. These fields apply the designs of biological systems to human technology—bioinspiration does this by using insights gained from natural designs, and biomimetics by directly imitating biological designs. In other words, scientists and engineers look to biological designs for the innovation and enhancement of human technology. Such was the case in the development of human flight.
The interest in bioinspiration and biomimetics has only grown in recent years. According to the International Society of Bionic Engineering, the number of biomimetics research papers published increased from 7,915 in 2019 to 11,218 in 2023. Many of us outside of these fields are familiar with nature-inspired technologies. Whether it’s the properties of shark skin improving the efficiency and speed of swimwear and marine vessels, the shape of sunflowers influencing how we capture solar energy, the spiny hook structures of plant seeds giving rise to Velcro, the bumpiness of humpback whale flippers inspiring more efficient wind turbines, or the long bills of kingfishers optimizing Japan’s rapid bullet train, multitudes of examples exist. The intricacy of the cell increasingly astonishes us. We marvel at the sophisticated designs we discover in biological systems.
Researchers in the fields of biomimetics and bioinspiration often give naturalistic evolution the credit for these designs. As one writer put it, “Given evolution has the benefit of millions of years of trial and error to perfect its designs in nature, it is logical that human construction can benefit in drawing from its influence.” Yet evolutionary biologists are quick to assert that evolution is anti-teleological—it’s an undirected process that often results in poor designs. Stephen Jay Gould claimed, for example, that “Odd arrangements and funny solutions are the proof of evolution—paths that…a natural process, constrained by history, follows perforce.”
Notice the contrast. We clearly see designs in biological systems that are so elegant that they inspire engineers and scientists to improve or innovate human technology. While biomimetics researchers credit these designs to naturalistic evolution, evolutionary biologists say naturalistic processes are expected to produce flawed, limited designs. Indeed, it’s highly unlikely for an unguided, directionless evolutionary process to produce the elegant designs that cause such inspiration.
The success of biomimetics and bioinspiration has led biochemist Fazale Rana to a different conclusion—what he’s dubbed the “converse Watchmaker argument” (drawing from William Paley’s famous “Watchmaker argument”). Rana explains, “If biological designs are the work of a Creator, then these systems should be so well-designed that they can serve as engineering models and otherwise inspire the development of new technologies.” If life is the handiwork of a Creator, it only makes sense, in other words, that we would turn to biological systems to inspire our own handiwork.
The biological designs we observe and use for advancements in human engineering showcase our Creator’s skill and creativity. The natural world points us back to God. Nature speaks, telling us that God exists. More than that, it tells us of his wisdom and his power.