Was It Designed?
Natural Systems
Animal Artistry—Was It Designed?
We can find artistic arrangements of stunning beauty in the animal world.
Photosynthesis—Was It Designed?
What is photosynthesis, and what does it do for us?
Nature’s Energy Management—Was It Designed?
Does the built-in energy management found in nature indicate anything about the origin of life?
Light From Life—Was It Designed?
Not only do some animals emit light but they do so in a more energy-efficent way than man-made sources of light. How?
Human Body
Oxygen Transport—Was It Designed?
You can learn about the amazing system that picks up, delivers, and processes oxygen in our body.
Land Animals
The Elephant’s Trunk—Was It Designed?
Researchers are impressed with the remarkable flexibility of the elephant’s trunk. Learn what contributes to its complex structure.
The Arctic Ground Squirrel’s Brain—Was It Designed?
See its unique ability to regenerate after hibernation.
The Dog’s Sense of Smell—Was It Designed?
What is it about a dog’s sense of smell that has inspired scientists to try and copy its capabilities?
The Slug’s Adhesive Slime
Glue that mimics slug slime could become part of every surgeon’s tool kit, eliminating the need for stitches and staples.
Aquatic Life
The Shark’s Skin—Was It Designed?
How does the structure of the shark’s skin help it to remain parasite free?
The Dive of the Cuvier’s Beaked Whale—Was It Designed?
These air-breathing mammals dive to great depths and hold their breath for long periods of time. How do they do it?
The Pilot Whale’s Self-Cleaning Skin—Was It Designed?
Why are shipping companies interested in its unique abilities?
The Grunion’s Spawning Technique—Was It Designed?
Find out how the timing and manner that it lays its eggs aids in its survival.
The Structure of the Limpet’s Teeth
What makes limpet teeth even stronger than spider silk?
The Glue of the Barnacle
The barnacles’ glue is said to be far superior to any synthetic products. But how barnacles adhere to wet surfaces remained a mystery until recently.
The Seahorse’s Tail
See why the seahorse’s unique tail is inspiring the next generation of robotics.
The Manta Ray’s Filtration System—Was It Designed?
How does the ray filter out plankton that is much smaller than its filter openings?
Birds
The Hummingbird’s Tongue—Was It Designed?
This tiny bird uses a highly efficient method of drawing up nectar.
Bird Colors That Never Fade
How is the unfading color of bird feathers paving the way for better paints and fabrics?
The Owl’s Wing
The intricate structure of the owl’s wing could hold the key to quieter wind turbines.
The Nest of the Mallee Bird—Was It Designed?
This mound-building bird produces a natural incubator for its eggs. How does it control the temperature of its nest year-round despite the changing seasons?
Reptiles and Amphibians
The Japanese Tree Frog’s Call—Was It Designed?
What is the secret behind the way male Japanese tree frogs produce sound in order to attract females?
Insects
The Bumblebee’s Flight Control—Was It Designed?
How does such a small creature outfly even the most experienced pilots?
How Do Ants Avoid Traffic Jams?
Ants avoid gridlock. What is their strategy?
The Carpenter Ant’s Antenna Cleaner
This tiny insect needs to keep itself clean in order to survive. How does it care for this basic task?
The Monarch Butterfly’s Migration—Was It Designed?
Does the amazingly complex migration of the monarch butterfly show evidence of design?
The V-Shaped Pose of the Cabbage White Butterfly—Was It Designed?
What is it about the cabbage white butterfly that has helped engineers to design better solar panels?
Plants
The Flight of the Dandelion Seed—Was It Designed?
The dandelion seed is four times more efficient than a conventional parachute, and it is also more stable.