Nature has been doing research and development for some 4 billion years. Human existence is a direct result of all that research and human innovation has often been inspired by nature—looking at birds ultimately led to the invention of aircrafts. Recent advances in technology allow for a much closer observation of nature and that opens the door to “biomimicry”: Copying nature. Humpback whales, fern leaves, seaweed and hummingbirds point the way to the best new renewable energy innovations.