The world has always been a dangerous place, so how do we increase our odds of survival? In Making Stuff Safer, David Pogue explores the cutting-edge research of scientists and engineers who want to keep us out of harm’s way. Some are countering the threat of natural disasters with new firefighting materials and safer buildings. Others are at work on technologies to thwart terrorist attacks. A next-generation vaccine will save millions from deadly...

"Explore how familiar inventions mimic animals with rhyming riddles, clear explanations, lift-the-flaps, interactive quizzes and more" -- back cover

"A lively and endlessly fascinating deep-dive into nature and the many groundbreaking human inventions inspired by the wild. When astronomers wanted a telescope that could capture X-rays from celestial bodies, they looked to the lobster. When doctors wanted a medication that could stabilize Type II diabetic patients, they found their muse in a lizard. When scientists wanted to drastically reduce emissions in cement manufacturing, they observed how...

"This book discusses the history and current state of high-tech folding in the world of manufacturing and how it is informed by folding in the natural world. Readers meet the leading scientists and artists in the field, learn about the manufacturing applications of folding in aerospace and other fields, and where folding technology is going in the future"--

"Accompanying a new series of the hit BBC podcast, a fascinating exploration of how the animal world has inspired human progress via new inventions and solutions that impact our daily lives. Did you know that mosquitoes' mouthparts are helping to develop pain-free surgical needles? Who'd have thought that the humble mussel could inspire so many useful things, from plywood production to a 'glue' that cements the crowns on teeth and saves unborn babies...

"Humans think they invent everything, but the fact is, us animals have invented ways of solving problems, making unbelievable materials, ways of getting around and working out how to survive on our own for millions of years. In this book you will meet the animal inventors who have shared their super inventing powers to make amazing things for humans."--Page [4] of cover.

"One fall day, a Swiss engineer was hiking with his dog. Soon the dog was covered in cockleburs, which held fast to its fur. After years of study and experimentation, the engineer invented Velcro, with hooks and loops just like the cockleburs. What woud life be like without Velcro? In Animal Tech: Fur & Claws, readers will learn about six life-changing technoogies that have been inspired by mammals. They will follow the stories of the scientists and...