how burdock fruits inspired the invention of the hook and loop fastener
Hook and loop fastener The original hook-and-loop fastener was conceived in 1941 by Swiss engineer George de Mestral.[1][2][3] The idea came to him one day after returning from a hunting trip with his dog in the Alps. He took a close look at the burrs (seeds) of burdock that kept sticking to his clothes and his dog's fur. He examined them under a microscope, and noted their hundreds of "hooks" that caught on anything with a loop, such as clothing, animal fur, or hair.[4] He saw the possibility of binding two materials reversibly in a simple fashion if he could figure out how to duplicate the hooks and loops.[1][3] Hook and Loop is viewed by some like Steven Vogel[5] or Werner Nachtigall[6] as a key example of inspiration from nature or the copying of nature's mechanisms (called bionics or biomimesis).
Newtons (cookie) Until the late 19th century, many physicians believed that most illnesses were related to digestion problems,[2] and recommended a daily intake of biscuits and fruit. Fig rolls were the ideal solution to this advice. They were a locally produced and handmade product until a Philadelphia baker and fig lover, Charles Roser, invented and then patented a machine in 1891 which inserted fig paste into a thick pastry dough.[3] Cambridgeport, Massachusettsâ€“based Kennedy Biscuit Company purchased the Roser recipe[4] and started mass production. The first Fig Newtons were baked at the F. A. Kennedy Steam Bakery in 1891.[5] The product was named after the city of Newton, Massachusetts.[6][7]