| Humans are at the top of the evolutionary chain. | | | | sixty hours. |
| At least that's what most of us like to believe. To | | | | Pit Vipers can differentiate between the heat |
| believe anything else would jeopardise our claim as | | | | given off by possible prey and the heat |
| planetary rulers and do tremendous damage to | | | | emanating from its surrounding rocky |
| many fragile egos. We may have learnt to walk | | | | environment. This ability comes from granules in |
| on two legs, use our opposable thumbs, and | | | | their nostrils that are sensitive to changes in heat |
| develop writing systems, but that doesn't make | | | | within a perimeter that extends beyond its |
| us the pinnacle of existence. The truth is that no | | | | striking distance. Scientists mimicked this ability |
| matter how advanced we think we are, we look | | | | and used it in the creation of thermal imaging |
| to animals for inspiration when thinking up many | | | | technology. Thermal imaging is used in detecting |
| new technologies. | | | | volcanic activity, to track the effects and pace of |
| Dolphins, like humans, need to be conscious or | | | | global warming, and by police and the military in |
| maintain a certain level of awareness to breathe. | | | | locating body heat. |
| Both species also need to rest their brains by | | | | An application with more functionality for general |
| entering into an unconscious state. Humans simply | | | | public use is the study of tree frogs to improve |
| go to sleep, but if dolphins switched off | | | | the stickiness and re usability of stick tape. The |
| completely as we do, they would drown. In the | | | | Indian Institute of Technology studied tree frogs, |
| interests of self-preservation, they have evolved | | | | and their toe pads in particular, to determine how |
| the ability to shut down one half of their brain at | | | | they managed to adhere to various surfaces. |
| a time. This ensures that they maintain enough | | | | They discovered that the footpads had tiny |
| awareness to tend to their physical needs, while | | | | channels on them, which enhanced frogs' sticking |
| getting much needed rest. | | | | ability. This breakthrough led to the design of an |
| Being able to function on half a brain while letting | | | | adhesive layer of elastic tiers with channels for air |
| the other half rest would be an invaluable ability in | | | | or water. The upshot was reusable tape with 30 |
| many professions. Military personnel could stay | | | | times the stickiness of current adhesive tape. |
| awake and alert in dangerous situations, and | | | | The influence of animals can be seen everywhere: |
| doctors would be able handle their demanding shift | | | | the construction of birds' wings helped refine |
| schedules. This raises the question of capability. | | | | wings on aeroplanes. The ability of hummingbirds |
| Dolphins use the ability to maintain basic | | | | to hover was instrumental in the design of |
| functioning. Doctors and members of the military | | | | helicopters. And the construction of buildings is |
| need higher levels of functioning, as they are | | | | now being adapted along the lines of termite |
| responsible for other lives. Would you trust a | | | | mounds to conserve energy. We may consider |
| neurosurgeon with half of his or her brain asleep? | | | | ourselves the epitome of evolution, but our |
| Nevertheless, efforts are being made to | | | | continued borrowing from lower life forms lends |
| manufacture stimulants that would allow people to | | | | itself to the conclusion that our pride in our abilities |
| mimic dolphins and maintain awareness for over | | | | is severely misguided. |