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In Brief: When nature has the solution

09 Feb 2009 16:22:41 GMT
Source: IRIN

Background

• Climate change

DAKAR, 9 February 2009 (IRIN) - Global warming is putting nature and humans on a collision course, but scientists working in "biomimicry" say nature holds solutions - if "mimicked" correctly.

Some inventions being touted as eco-breakthroughs that imitate or use natural properties include vaccines that survive without refrigeration based on a plant found throughout Africa; new antibacterial substances inspired by marine algae found off Australia's coast that promise a new way to battle health hazards with little risk of bacterial resistance; a beetle-bug inspired water harvesting system; and biodegradable packaging that mimics frogs.

Entrepreneurs of the natural world showcased their inventions last year in Spain and 100 top technologies will be included in a book expected to come out in May 2009.

pt/np/oa

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