Biomimicry, Butterflies, and Bank Fraud

From cocklebur-inspired Velcro to robotic lobsters, scientists are increasingly looking to imitate the wonders of life. In the field of biomimicry (derived from the Greek words bios, meaning “life,” and mimesis, meaning “to imitate”) scientists, researchers, and engineers worldwide turn their attention to God’s creation to inspire new, intricately designed, man-made products to improve human life and solve various dilemmas.

Professors at the University of Cambridge studied the microscopic structures in the wing scales of the Swallowtail butterfly in hopes of mimicking its magnificent colors. The colors of these tropical butterflies are strikingly bright because of the shape of the structures and because “they are made up of alternate layers of cuticle and air”. They believe the artificial structures “could be used to encrypt information in optical signatures on bank notes to protect them against forgery. [W]e could see structures based on butterflies’ wings shining from a note or even our passports.”

It is entirely appropriate for scientists to look to nature for the inspiration of their inventions. After all, “the whole Earth is full of His [God’s] glory” (Isaiah 6:3). The infinite, omniscient Creator made marvelous, living creatures, including butterflies, for man to use, study, and learn from in this life (Genesis 1:28). Sadly, many scientists today refuse to consider the most important thing to be learned from all of the animals and plants they study and seek to imitate: they all declare the glory of God. Nature did not assemble itself. The designs in nature that intelligent human beings seek to copy demand an adequate explanation; they demand a grand Designer.

For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God (Hebrews 3:4).

Eric Lyons

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=3786