30 Animals That Made Us Smarter

S2 Ep10. Their wings aren’t just for show! The rose butterfly can help us harness energy from sunlight. Scientists have been inspired by their wings’ unique lattice structure. This could lead to cheaper and more effective solar panels.Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30AnimalsGet in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep9. Ever heard of Venus’s Flower Basket? It’s the marine sponge inspiring bridges and skyscrapers! Its delicate and resistant structure is both lightweight and very resistant to buckling - it may provide the blueprint for the next generation of big builds.Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30AnimalsGet in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep8. A cow’s amazing stomach could hold the key to stopping wastewater pollution. Engineers have designed a new sewage treatment plant based on a cow’s unique digestive process. Wastewater is progressively cleaned by microorganisms until it’s safe enough to be released into the environment. This new plant does not need electricity to operate, so it’s environmentally-friendly.Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30AnimalsGet in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep7. Imagine being rescued by a snake! A new generation of wriggly robots, inspired by the movement of snakes, could save your life. The way a snake can move over a complex variety of landscapes could be replicated by robots to rescue people after earthquakes. It could even help with extra-terrestrial exploration.Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30 AnimalsGet in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep6. Bam! The mantis shrimp’s powerful punch could change the way we build cars and planes. The little crustacean has inspired lighter, more impact-resistant materials. These shrimps are ferocious predators which use their forelimbs to hit their prey with one of the strongest weight-for-weight punches on the planet. The design of their punching limb has caught the attention of scientists and could transform the way we create strong materials for the car and aerospace industries. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep5. Scared of wasps? They could help keep you alive, perhaps transforming life-saving keyhole surgery. Parasitic wasps possess a long tube which can reach inside the body of their host where they lay their eggs. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep4. A hedgehog could save your life! Spiky quills protect hedgehogs from being eaten by predators. But they also play an important role in cushioning the animal when it falls, keeping it safe even if it plunges from a great height. And now, they can help keep humans safe, too. By mimicking the flexibility, strength and pattern of the quills, scientists have developed a sports helmet that could prevent concussions. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep3. Camels are cool. They cope with intense desert heat, inspiring a gel for storing medicines. It could extend the life of medicines, making it easier to transport them across the globe. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep2. What if a robot could fix itself? It’s the story of the secret of scary squid suckers, with their razor sharp teeth-like structures. They could hold the key to materials which can repair themselves without human intervention. Scientists think this could be useful for repairing hazmat suits and even robots. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

S2 Ep1. An elephant’s trunk is amazing. Imagine a robotic arm with the same capabilities. Not only does a trunk have the strength to topple trees and lift hundreds of kilograms in weight, it can also perform precise and delicate movements. It has inspired engineers to create a "bionic handling assistant", which can be used for all sorts of complex tasks. Thank you to Pranav, a 7-year-old listener from India, for suggesting the first story of the new season. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

Get ready to meet 30 more amazing animals. From cats to camels, ants to elephants, discover the unexpected things they can do that have inspired new technologies that make us smarter. Season 2 begins on 28 June.#30Animals

The "nerd-fest" live show! A scorpion and tarantula on stage, biomimicry bingo and animal music, recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in London. Welcome to the season finale, with your suggestions of animals which are inspiring us. Watch all the animations here: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals With Patrick Aryee. #30Animals

When a fly hits a spider’s web the web sends vibrations to the spider crouched at its edge. This is known as remote sensing. The webs may help us design sensors to detect vibrations in the earth and the built environment. These vibrations could be turned into electricity. This could lead to small scale energy harvesting. With Patrick Aryee. #30Animals www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

The wings of one of the most beautiful butterflies could transform paints and textiles. Scientists are fascinated by how the blue morpho produces its shimmering blue effect. With Patrick Aryee. #30Animals www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

Unlocking the secrets of the dazzling colours in the tail of the peacock. It is designed to attract females but has caught the eye of scientists, as they mimic it to develop high-resolution reflective colour-screen displays. With Patrick Aryee. #30Animals www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

How road, subway and computer systems could be helped by trails created by turtle ants. For extra information about all episodes, visit: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals

Babies in the womb could be saved with the help of a glue based on proteins found in mussels. Performing surgery on foetuses in the womb is an astonishing medical feat but closing the delicate amniotic sac after surgery is difficult. A synthetic adhesive could do the job and help save lives of the youngest patients. For extra information about all episodes, visit our #30Animals website: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals

Imagine a building based on the shape of an egg – all thanks to the butterfly. Nature has long been a source of inspiration for the design of buildings, like the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona. This is the story of a butterfly house inspired by the shape of the eggs of the White Royal butterfly and the patterns on their shells. www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals With Patrick Aryee. #30Animals

The way dolphins communicate is being studied to create tsunami early warning systems. They produce click sounds to help navigate and hunt for prey. They listen back to the echoes to help create a 3D image and visualise their surroundings. www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals With Patrick Aryee. #30Animals

Picture the scene after a serious earthquake or a tornado. A flying robot inspired by bats could help survey the damage. There may be burst gas pipes, live electrical wires and many other dangers. Scientists have been studying bats to design an “eye in the sky” for use in exactly these situations. www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals With Patrick Aryee. #30Animals