| Humans are at the top of the evolutionary chain. At | | | | Pit Vipers can differentiate between the heat given off |
| least that's what most of us like to believe. To believe | | | | by possible prey and the heat emanating from its |
| anything else would jeopardise our claim as planetary | | | | surrounding rocky environment. This ability comes from |
| rulers and do tremendous damage to many fragile | | | | granules in their nostrils that are sensitive to changes in |
| egos. We may have learnt to walk on two legs, use | | | | heat within a perimeter that extends beyond its striking |
| our opposable thumbs, and develop writing systems, | | | | distance. Scientists mimicked this ability and used it in |
| but that doesn't make us the pinnacle of existence. | | | | the creation of thermal imaging technology. Thermal |
| The truth is that no matter how advanced we think | | | | imaging is used in detecting volcanic activity, to track |
| we are, we look to animals for inspiration when thinking | | | | the effects and pace of global warming, and by police |
| up many new technologies. | | | | and the military in locating body heat. |
| Dolphins, like humans, need to be conscious or maintain | | | | An application with more functionality for general public |
| a certain level of awareness to breathe. Both species | | | | use is the study of tree frogs to improve the stickiness |
| also need to rest their brains by entering into an | | | | and re usability of stick tape. The Indian Institute of |
| unconscious state. Humans simply go to sleep, but if | | | | Technology studied tree frogs, and their toe pads in |
| dolphins switched off completely as we do, they would | | | | particular, to determine how they managed to adhere |
| drown. In the interests of self-preservation, they have | | | | to various surfaces. They discovered that the |
| evolved the ability to shut down one half of their brain | | | | footpads had tiny channels on them, which enhanced |
| at a time. This ensures that they maintain enough | | | | frogs' sticking ability. This breakthrough led to the |
| awareness to tend to their physical needs, while | | | | design of an adhesive layer of elastic tiers with |
| getting much needed rest. | | | | channels for air or water. The upshot was reusable |
| Being able to function on half a brain while letting the | | | | tape with 30 times the stickiness of current adhesive |
| other half rest would be an invaluable ability in many | | | | tape. |
| professions. Military personnel could stay awake and | | | | The influence of animals can be seen everywhere: the |
| alert in dangerous situations, and doctors would be | | | | construction of birds' wings helped refine wings on |
| able handle their demanding shift schedules. This raises | | | | aeroplanes. The ability of hummingbirds to hover was |
| the question of capability. Dolphins use the ability to | | | | instrumental in the design of helicopters. And the |
| maintain basic functioning. Doctors and members of | | | | construction of buildings is now being adapted along |
| the military need higher levels of functioning, as they | | | | the lines of termite mounds to conserve energy. We |
| are responsible for other lives. Would you trust a | | | | may consider ourselves the epitome of evolution, but |
| neurosurgeon with half of his or her brain asleep? | | | | our continued borrowing from lower life forms lends |
| Nevertheless, efforts are being made to manufacture | | | | itself to the conclusion that our pride in our abilities is |
| stimulants that would allow people to mimic dolphins | | | | severely misguided. |
| and maintain awareness for over sixty hours. | | | | |