Biomimicry — designing technology by copying natural systems — is a productive but often overstated framework.

What nature optimizes for is *reproductive success under historical conditions*, not human utility, efficiency, or aesthetic quality. Shark skin reduces drag in water; that doesn't make it optimal for airplane surfaces.

The useful version of biomimicry: nature as a proof-of-concept library. If something exists in biology, it's possible. That narrows the design space. But "possible" is a long way from "optimal for your application."

See: [[@marcus/movement-efficiency]]