2. High-Speed Bullet Trains — Inspired by the Kingfisher Bird
Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet trains once faced a major problem: when exiting tunnels at high speed, they created sonic booms that disturbed nearby communities.
Lead engineer Eiji Nakatsu, who was also a bird-watcher, noticed that the kingfisher bird dives into water almost silently due to its long, narrow, streamlined beak.
By redesigning the train’s nose to mimic the kingfisher’s beak, engineers achieved:
- A 30% reduction in energy use
- Increased speed
- Significant noise reduction
- Smoother aerodynamic performance
This biomimetic design is considered one of the greatest engineering successes inspired by wildlife.
