AGH University of Science and Technology

03/19/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/20/2026 07:52

Technologies inspired by nature: from bear fur to materials of the future

The researchers analyse the materials, their structure and properties. Photograph: AGH University

Technologies inspired by nature: from bear fur to materials of the future
19-03-2026

Can the fur of a Palla's cat help design modern insulation materials and the hairs of a polar bear favour the creation of energy-efficient construction technologies? Researchers from the AGH University of Krakow claim that nature can be one of the best teachers in materials science.

That is the approach behind the cooperation of materials engineers from AGH University and animal carers from Zoo Wrocław. The scholars from the Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science analyse the structure of hair, feathers, and fur of various animal species in order to understand the mechanisms underlying their thermal insulation. The work is carried out as part of the BioCom4SavEn project (Bioinspired Composites Strategies for Saving Energy) financed by the European Research Council (ERC). The prestigious ERC grant, received by Professor Urszula Stachewicz five years ago, has made it possible to set up a state-of-the-art laboratory where a team of a dozen or so people studies mechanisms observed in nature and applies them to technological solutions.

Professor Stachewicz's ERC grant has enabled the creation of a state-of-the-art laboratory where a team of more than a dozen researchers studies the mechanisms observed in nature. Photograph: AGH University

The samples collected and provided by the zoo staff at the end of 2025 come from animals such as reindeers, snow leopards, manuls, camels, bisons, and African penguins. AGH University researchers work exclusively with hair and feathers that animals shed naturally or that are collected during routine grooming procedures at the zoo. As they point out, nature is a vast laboratory of material solutions.

"All creations of nature are well thought out. The structures we observe in animals and plants result from millions of years of evolution and have a very specific purpose, such as protection against extreme temperatures, both low and high. Our task, as engineers, is to understand how they work and to try to replicate these mechanisms using modern technology," explains Dr Daniel Ura of the Electrospun Fibers Group.

Biomimicry: when science looks to nature

In science, the practice of drawing inspiration from nature and copying natural processes in technological and industrial design is called biomimicry. In practice, it translates to the analysis of natural materials, their structure and properties, and then an attempt at replicating these properties in synthetic materials.

"We study what nature does and try to take the mechanisms we discover and apply them to our materials. If we see that a natural structure is porous, we are trying to reach a similar structure in polymer fibres," the researchers emphasise.

Inspiration from nature is now being applied across various areas of technology. One of the most iconic examples in the world is the aerodynamic shape of Japanese Shinkansen trains, inspired by the beak of a kingfisher. Thanks to the use of biomimetic solutions, the new trains are faster, quieter, and more energy-efficient.

Fur: nature's insulation material

For a biologist, fur is part of animal physiology, whereas for a material scientist, it is a structure with properties designed by nature with utmost precision. The AGH University scholars analyse hair and feathers using a range of advanced techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; a technique that uses infrared radiation to analyse molecular vibrations), or mechanical testing. It allows them to observe structural details with micro- or nanometre precision. Sometimes, inspiration drawn from nature is not visible to the naked eye. Only through high-resolution electron microscopy can we see just how complex and sophisticated these structures are.

Polar bear's secret

One of the best kept insulation secrets in nature is the fur of animals that live in low temperatures, such as the polar bear. When a single hair is cut open under a microscope, it turns out that the centre of the hair is almost hollow. A polar bear's hair has a hollow core. The air trapped inside acts as an excellent insulator. This is precisely why the fur retains heat so effectively.

"The analysis of the hair of a polar bear shows how strong the effect of the environment on the structure of biological material is. Preliminary research indicates that the hairs of animals from various regions of the world differ in structure. It is a valuable tip for engineers designing modern insulation materials," says Professor Urszula Stachewicz, the team leader.

How do nature-inspired materials come to be?

To replicate the structure of hair or feathers, AGH University researchers turn to electrospinning.

"The polymer fibres we produce using electrospinning are similar in structure to human hair. However, they are much thinner on the micro- and nanometre scale. To put it simply, the process involves dissolving the polymer in a suitable solvent and then forming very fine fibres from it in a strong electric field. Once the solvent has evaporated, we are left with microscopic fibres. Millions of such fibres form a very light, porous mat. The greatest advantage of this method is the ability to control the process parameters. We can adjust various parameters such as temperature or humidity. Changing a single parameter can completely alter the properties of the material or make it much more fragile or elastic," explains Dr Daniel Ura.

Electrospinning has become a key nanofibre production method in today's materials science.

The wisdom of the old man

An inspiration behind one of the group's research projects was a very special plant, Cephalocereus senilis, a cactus nicknamed "the old man". The plant is densely covered with fibres that resemble grey hair. Under an electron microscope, the fibres reveal their interesting structure.

"We saw that the surface of the cactus' fibres has microscopic ridges and grooves. These microscopic structures disrupt airflow and hinder the transfer of heat from the outside," says Dr Ura. "We tried to replicate it in the lab and managed to create a mat made of millions of fibres with a similar surface topography. It turned out that materials with such grooves insulate heat better than smooth fibres," he adds.

Nature-inspired materials increase human comfort

One of the most important applications of these materials could be energy-efficient construction. Better insulation materials could significantly reduce energy demand.

"We investigated a case in which a metal wire heats up with the flow of an electric current. We covered it with our nanofibre mat to see how it affects heat transfer. The results suggest that nature-inspired materials can effectively reduce energy loss."

Nanofibre mats have a wide range of applications, from insulating window components to lightweight technical textiles, filter materials, and layers in protective face masks.

"Such materials are very lightweight and breathable, yet they can also offer excellent filtration and insulation properties," the members of the Electrospun Fibers Group point out.

Research on animal fur and cactus fibres proves that nature is an incredibly effective material designer.

"The observation of nature can give us plenty to learn from. Animals and plants have adapted to extreme environmental conditions. If we understand the mechanisms, we can create materials that are equally as effective. That is precisely why, as stressed by scholars, nature protection and exploration is relevant for many more fields than biology. Nature is a great source of inspiration for the technologies of the future. The better we know it, the more solutions we will bring into engineering and thus to everyday life," concludes Professor Stachewicz.

With an ERC grant, Professor Urszula Stachewicz has managed to expand her laboratory. Photograph: AGH University

Electrospinning is one of the most important nanofiber production methods in materials engineering. Photograph: AGH University

AGH University of Science and Technology published this content on March 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 20, 2026 at 13:52 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]