2015-07-30 It Sticks! (1)

• Where did the inspiration for Velcro come from?
• QOD: How long did George de Mestral work on his idea before he found an answer?

One invention that changed the world

Throughout history people have invented amazing things. Some inventions, like the car, changed people's lives in big ways. Other inventions, like the shopping cart, just made life more convenient. Where does the inspiration come from for these inventions? It can come from anywhere, but the inspiration for Velcro came from nature.

In 1941, George de Mestral was taking a nature hike in Switzerland one day. He noticed many burs sticking to his pants. When he got home, he looked at one of the burs under his microscope. He saw the bur's tiny hooks holding tight to the tiny loops of cloth of his pants. "Could this idea be useful?" he wondered. He worked on it for almost eight years before he found an answer. He made two strips of material. One had thousands of tiny hooks on it; the other was covered with thousands of tiny loops. The two strips could stick tightly to each other.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Biomimicry 仿生學
字首 bio表示生命, mimicry 模仿
Biomimicry 利用自然界的現象改善人類生活的做法

Language Lab
inspiration n.
something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone
- Many writers find inspiration in the people and things around them.
inspire v.
to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create
- Joanne was inspired by her drama teacher and became an actress.

Velcro n.
/ˈvɛlˌkroʊ/
used for a nylon fabric that can be fastened to itself
- The bag has a Velcro opening and an inside zipper pocket.
- Many kids don't know how to tie shoelaces because they always wear shoes with Velcro straps.

hook n.
a curved or bent tool for catching, holding, or pulling something
- Greg always hangs his jacket on the hook by his office door.
- These curtain hooks were made of brass.
hook v.
to connect or attach (something) with a hook
- Ricky hooked his trailer to his truck.

microscope n.
a device used for producing a much larger view of very small objects so that they can be seen clearly
- Mike loves to look at insect samples under the microscope.
- When you're using a microscope, make sure you adjust the focus correctly.

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