Question

What is biomimicry and why is artificial photosynthesis a good example? How do we currently retrieve and produce energy? List at least two problems with our current energy source and explain how artificial photosynthesis resolves these problems.

Answer 1

Answer:

The term Biomimicry is coined by two words Bio which mean Living organisms (Biological organisms) and mimicry which means to imitate something by observing something. Thus, it means that the ideas of design and production which originate by the study of on biological entities and processes to build a useful resource is called biomimicry. So, the observational study of nature's best practices and implement them into man-made challenges can be defined as biomimicry.

Artificial photosynthesis is a good example as due to the detailed study of the photosynthetic process in plants and photosynthetic organisms we are able to develop a device which can exhale fresh oxygen and take up carbon dioxide.

Thus the leaves of plants are mimicked by humans to create a resource which would be beneficial for them. Thus, it provides a good example of how bio mimicking has been implemented in our lives. Other examples are planes, submarines etc.

Currently, we obtain most of our energy needs through:

1. Non-renewable resources such as Coal, Petrol, Diesel which are fossil fuels.
2. And a minority of our energy needs are fulfiled by renewable resources such as wind and solar energy.

Two problems with our current energy sources are:

1. They are non-renewable which means they are limited and they might deplete and become inadequate in the coming future. Also, they release harmful greenhouse gases which are linked to climate change.
2. Another problem with most renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy is that they are high in cost during set up and maintenance and they require a lot of space.

Artificial photosynthesis can be used to resolve these problems as

1. they offer a new way to produce energy and therefore they can be utilized in high amount unlike the non-renewable resources which is limited.
2. Solar panels used for solar energy and the turbines wind energy all work depending upon the time and weather. Thus, they are dependent on time and weather. But artificial photosynthesis could provide a storable fuel.