Building smarter with nature as a model

It’s a new field for humanity, but harnessing solar power is nothing new for sunflowers. And according to Wired, a team of researchers are using them as a model to build a better concentrated solar power plant.

These systems require huge amounts of space — a problem if we’re going to increase our reliance on solar power. But the scientists were able to shrink their CSP’s footprint by drawing inspiration from the florets, those pod-like structures at the sunflower’s center. The team arranged the mirrors so they would be, like the florets, 137 degrees from each other, reducing the necessary room by 20%. (Click through for all the study’s nitty-gritty details.)

We love this story, because it illustrates that sometimes, the secret to creativity is simply spotting what translates well into what you’re trying to achieve.

Image: jeffreyc42 / Flickr / CC-licensed

Innovation’s secret sauce: open-mindedness plus knowledge

Steven Johnson — the author of Where Good Ideas Come From — has a great post at his personal blog about where his own good ideas come from. He traces his research process for his next book, explaining the roles of social media and synchronicity and open-mindedness in his process. But perhaps the most interesting insight is this: “All these new [social] tools are incredible for making rapid-fire discoveries and associations, but you need a broad background of knowledge to prime you for those discoveries.” It’s knowledge that’s the springboard for so many creative leaps.