Hohensalzburg fortress , a largest fully preserved medieval fortress in Salzburg, Austria sits atop a hill. It can be reached walking the zigzag path or by a funicular car departing from the foot of the hill in Festungsgasse. As you exit from the funicular you are led through a gift shop that sells amber jewelry and polished rocks and minerals both indigenous to the region.

Study of Biology, Taxonomy and Evolution have benefited immensely from the amber preserved fossils.
Because of this we have a valuable record of the organisms which lived in the Earth's past. Although considered a gem , amber is a wholly- organic material derived from the resin of extinct species of trees. Eventually when the trees died and over millions of years sank into the coal bed, the tree sap hardened and formed amber stones. Amber has been carved into beads for jewelry and ornaments. However, it is valued highly by the scientists for it's preservative properties. The resin overtime polymerizes and any living thing that got trapped in it is successfully preserved.
 
Modern scientists have collected valuable information about extinct species since amber fossils are three -dimensional with life - like colors and patterns. Even the internal structures of the cells may stay intact. Insects caught in amber resin have been found in active poses, along with their predators,  prey and  with internal and external parasites. Intact frogs, lizards, snake skins, hair, bones and blood of mammals, plants, leaves , spores and pollen , hair from dinosaurs called "dino fuzz", have been discovered in amber, opening to us a window into our primitive world of unknown genera of fossilized organisms.

Baltic amber is formed from a particular type of pine- Pinus succinifera and is called succinite. Geological knowledge of each fossil resin is important to their botanical classification. Even when the fossil resin comes from the same plants, it might be different since it got fossilized in different conditions. 
Also, in order to be more accurate a place name is also given to amber fossils such as Baltic amber, Siberian amber, Spain amber, Dominican amber or New Jersey amber etc.

Kochenite, from Kochental ( a valley in Tyrol, around Innsbruck, Austria) is another variety of Amber found here. Spider beetles, belonging to Genera Ptinus have been found in Baltic amber more than a century and half ago. The amber of this coniferous tree belonged to early Tertiary (about 70 million) years ago.

Lyme disease is caused by ticks carrying Lyme disease bacteria- Borrelia burgdorferi. We recently have gained new insight and information about the bacteria and it was found preserved in amber. In 2014, Oregon State University researchers working on amber samples from the Dominican Republic and discovered ancient ticks infected with the bacteria, remarkably similar to modern Borrelia.  Ticks were dated back to 15-20 million years and indicate that even our early ancestors had to deal with conditions similar to Lyme disease.

 Insects as old as 20 million years old believed to have roamed the earth alongside dinosaurs and before the ice age three million years ago have been found. Last year, researchers found fossilized tobacco in the northern Amazon establishing that the plant dates back to the Pleistocene Era, 2.5 million years ago and that it originated in northeastern Peru.

There is a controversy if DNA can be extracted from the fossilized organisms and compared with that of its modern day counterparts. This concept was the basis of the movie "Jurassic Park" where the idea of extracting dinosaur DNA from blood eaten by mosquito and cloning new dinosaurs was used. A 46 million year old fossilized mosquito found by an amateur fossil hunter in Montana contains the blood of an unknown ancient creature. Scientists used x-ray spectrometry and found the abdomen full of iron which is what you would expect from blood. With mass spectrometry,  the presence of heme, the compound that gives red blood cells their distinctive color and allows them to carry oxygen throughout the body was found. However,  it was not possible to say which creatures blood was preserved in the mosquito's abdomen. That's because the DNA degrades quickly to possibly survive 46 million years of being trapped in amber ( or stone). Assembling  a full genome from DNA fragments requires us to have an understanding of what the whole genome looks like and turning it into a living breathing animal would require putting that DNA into an ovum of a living species closely related to the mystery creature that we do not know about. 

With improvements and advances in techniques and technologies perhaps some day a Dino park may become a reality.

If you want to buy a real amber jewelry there are two tests for it. Real amber floats in salt water and if you touch a hot needle to the surface of amber bead the smell should be pine-like.

Discipline of Biomimicry takes its name from the Greek word "bios" meaning life and " mimesis" meaning to imitate. We can say this field is as old as life on earth, 3.8 billion years, as organisms have been fine tuning themselves since then. We have been observing, analyzing and problem solving by looking around us ever since we have stepped on this Earth. It is an inherent nature of the human mind. All things biotic or abiotic have been our muse.

This became even more prominent for me on my trip. Let me give some examples:

In the museums I visited, at all the amazing architecture I looked at, in paintings by various artists, even the royal china at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna I could see inspiration drawn from the natural world. The royal china  is painted with beautiful patterns of butterflies, flowers, fish, lobsters, hummingbirds, ducks, roosters , shells and coral. A collection of plates had Lantana aculeata , a perennial flower painted on them, Rosa indica is of course the most common preference on such items. Archduke Franz , an emperor of Vienna during 1820's actually took up gardening as a hobby since he liked Botany. His collection of dessert plates (96 pieces) had all sorts of beautiful flora and fauna. Now, these days we might not like to eat in such fancy plates but we still like to decorate our dinner tables with fresh flowers and fruits.

 At the BMW museum in Munich , I was delighted to find out that the radiator grille of the BMW cars is a double oval known as a kidney because it mimics the symmetrically placed pair of kidneys in our own bodies. More so in the older models than in the newer ones.

The archaeological findings- vessels, ornaments, tools  used by our ancestors, displayed at the Acropolis museum in Greece testify that mankind has learned many things from observing other species and adapting their needs accordingly.

Leonardo Da Vinci was a big proponent of learning from nature. His designs and sketches that led to numerous inventions are closely linked to designs found in the natural world. Code Atlanticus is 1,119 pages and the contents are flight of birds to weaponry to designing musical instruments, mathematics and botany. In April this year I had an opportunity to see these wonderful drawings of  Da Vinci in Boston at the Museum of Fine Arts. 

In Barcelona, Sagrada Familia is Gaudi's ultimate tribute to nature.

At the Viktualienmarket in Munich I saw the Durian plant fruit. Well, then found out that the Esplanade theater in Singapore has it's exterior or the building skin inspired by this fruit. Durian plant uses it's semi rigid pressurized skin to protect the seeds inside. Similarly, the buildings exterior is part of an elaborate shading system that adjusts throughout the day to allow sunlight in and protects the interiors from overheating.

The ladder model of double helix of the DNA as staircases in buildings is a popular design. There is one in the courtyard of the global accounting firm KPMG in Munich.

Photovoltaic systems, which harvest solar energy are mimicking the ways a leaf harvest energy by photosynthesis. Solar cells are able to split water into hydrogen and oxygen the same way leaves do trapping sunlight in the chlorophyll.

Biologists, researchers and other science professionals, artists, designers, engineers are all practitioners of Biomimicry. By observing nature and its inner workings we can make connections between human problems and natural solutions.

Nature is inspiring next generation of drones and robots after seeing how moths cope with turbulence. Robots are being designed with bird like grasping appendages.The developments are inspired by numerous other organisms such as bats, insects even flying snakes.

Researchers are certainly taking inspiration from all corners of the animal and plant kingdom.

My this experience makes me think that anybody who is an observer of nature can " biologize" a challenge, can query the natural world for inspiration, can evaluate, can apply the scientific methods to make sure that the final design mimics nature in form, in process and in ecosystem.

So, my dear students get ready to become a bio " mimic" king.

Check out the pictures from my trip that biomimic nature.

 Salzburg is an Austrian village on the bank of river Salzach , straight out of a storybook. It has numerous well manicured parks, stunning medieval and baroque edifices, grand churches,museums and the most prominent and formidable, the clifftop fortress, set against the backdrop of the northern border of the Alps.
It is important to mention the city's most prolific composer, the musical pedigree- Wolfgang Mozart who was born and baptized here. Also,the film locations of the movie "The Sound of Music" that so compellingly bring throngs of tourists to this beautiful place.
 Salzburg's Old Town is a UNESCO's world heritage site and best preserved city center. It is walkable, easy to navigate,  and full of sights to check out.
 We arrived here late in the night by train from Innsbruck. Hence, spent the night resting. Next day, early morning descended at the Mirabell Gardens. Not only is it tranquil but it is one of the best  free things to do in Salzburg. You can enjoy the rainbow of flourishing blooms and the Mirabell Palace in the background. It was here that Julie Andrews tromped with the Von Trapp kids in the Sound Of Music singing "Do,Re,Mi". You'll recognize the Pegasus fountain,the gates, the Gnome garden along with the hedge tunnel.
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 Mozart Wohnhaus is nearby. It is a museum about the Mozart family displaying objects from the family estate including the original piano. It was interesting to learn that Wolfgang's sister was also an accomplished musician.
 Mozart's Geburtshaus is his birthplace across the river. He was born in the third floor of the building.This museum houses much of the stuff from his early life.
  From here we headed to the Salzburg Cathedral- Dom zu Salzburg. Built in 774 in Baroque style. It was rebuilt after a fire and then again in 1950 after being damaged in WWII. The three bronze gates represent Faith, Hope and Love. The Cathedral has a beautiful nave and domes.

  An interesting man on top of a giant golden globe in Kapitelplatz is a sculpture called Sphaera by Stephen Balkenhol. Interpretation left totally to the observer.
  From here we took a cable car to the Hohensalzburg Castle on top of the hill. You can also walk the strenous 15 minute walk from the center to the top of the hill. It is one of the oldest fort which was built in installments. Inside the castle is a Marionette Museum devoted to the art of marionette theatre of which Salzburg has a rich history and still offers performances. There is also a display of predictably terrifying torture devices as well.

 It will be unfair not to mention the Makartsteg footbridge that connects both the sides of the town. This bridge has a sea of padlocks on its fence. These love locks are a craze across Europe when it comes to publicly declaring eternal love.This practice is viewed as a tradition, a romantic gesture and some view it as vandalism- go figure.
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 As we came back to the town center we ran into a crew of film makers who were in the midst of shooting a scene.
​ From the Old Town we took Bus 25 to Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens, which is about a 25 minute drive outside of the city.
 Well, there are palaces all over Europe that are full of opulent rooms, filled with antique furniture, pictures , royal memorabilia. But the Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens have fun and funky contraptions that bring a smile on your face because they are for entertainment  and relaxation. Markus Sittikus, a prince and an archbishop hired Santino Solani, who also built the Salzburg Cathedral to build the Hellbrunn palace. This palace has no bedrooms. What it has are these amazing fun and funky gardens that bring a smile on every visitors face.So the main attraction is not the palace but the gardens where you will find statues, grottos and fountains that operate with hydraulic technology . These moving objects are called -Wasserspiele.
These trick fountains work with a sophisticated system of pumps that automate the fountains.Grottos are a scientific marvel. In them the bird calls are very cleverly engineered by water pipes, turbine like water wheels, bellows driving the wind into the sound of an organ. These machines have been in existence since circa 1830.
 Neptune Grotto is a tin face that rolls it's eyes and sticks out it's tongue, all movements driven by water.The mechanical theater is a tower palace that showcases the daily court life,all figures are water driven marionettes. Total of 141 mobile and 52 immobile figures demonstrate various professions and trades of the period.
 The picnic table, from where the tour starts is no ordinary table. Imagine you as a royalty in your lovely fancy gown or dress having a picnic with the prince who has hidden controls,and then the fountain erupts right beneath you.Not sure if the prince was being just plain silly or actually settling scores.
 It is heartening to see that the palace and the gardens still bring out what the Archbishop intended- screams, squeals and smiles.
  A day in Salzburg was well spent with a whole bunch to add to memories. One thing that I learnt from my interactions with the locals was..... never bring up Schwarzenegger:)
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  Neuschwanstein means "New Swan Stone" is located in the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen  in southwest Bavaria, Germany.This castle was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria, who paid for most of it out of his personal fortune rather than dipping into the Bavarian coffers.Ludwig II is known as the fairy-tale king. The inspiration for the castle came to the eccentric king from the theater themes, musical mythology and operas of Richard Wagner,his close friend.
 I wanted to visit the Castle primarily to see what and how a medieval- style chateau called the Neuschwanstein Castle, that was built for no strategic or defense purposes, inspired the Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle. Well, it turns out that the dainty turrets, cylindrical towers and the romantic views  surely did inspire Walt Disney  and then forever became a fairy-tale oasis.
  The Castle is a hybrid of shapes of Romanesque with cuboid and semicircular arches,Gothic with slim towers and delicate embellishments, Byzantine art and architecture all mingled in an eclectic fusion for a nineteenth century castle.The white sandstone was sourced from a nearby quarry and the sandstone brick for the portals and the bay windows along with the marble from  places near Salzburg.
  Despite its size the castle does not have space for a royal court, only private lodgings and servant quarters. Ludwig II lived as a recluse in the castle for a total of 172 days only. He was found dead in a nearby lake along with his psychiatrist. He was 40 years old. His death is still a mystery as to if it was a murder, suicide or purely accidental. When Ludwig was stripped of all real power, historians believe he decided to retreat into his fantasy kingdom in the Alps, living in alternate reality in which he could play his operatic daydream of christian knights and magical swans. He would sleep during the day and wander the castle at night.
  He had a perfect location picked out as the castle sits near his childhood castle of Hohenschwangau. It has a 360 degree views of pristine alpine scenery of lakes, lush valleys and towering peaks. Had the castle been completed it would have had 200 rooms, with all technological comforts such as electricity, sewage system, central heating and electric buzzers to summon servants. However, only few rooms are in service - The Throne room, Ludwig's Suite, The Singer's Hall and the Grotto. The castle has been featured in movies such as The Great Escape ( 1963) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ( 1968).
  To get to the castle we took an early morning train at 5.45 am from Munchen HBH ( Munich's Central Station) to Füssen. The early morning journey was a window into the Bavarian countryside.The rolling green meadows, farms, windmills and solar powered barns made up much of the scenery. The herd of cows strolled and grazed in open un-fenced fields. It drew my attention to the cow bells around their necks. Beautifully handcrafted with representative alpine figures they are hand carved or cut out of wood or bronze with leather collars. Some have sleigh bells jingling, telling the herdsmen how far the cows have cruised out. It keeps the loitering cows safe from wandering off the cliffs as they search for greener pastures. The noise of the bells also keeps evil spirits at bay, such is the belief. The clanging and chiming of the bells is certainly a key part of living on alpine pastures, keeping the old fashioned farm culture and life alive. So then in that moment I decided to buy a cowbell as a souvenir to represent the memories of this trip,
 On arriving at Füssen we took Bus 78 that drops you off just downhill at the ticket center by the castles. From here you can go to the two other neighboring castles or take a bus to Neushwanstein castle. A small ride and you get dropped off at a station to hike the rest of the way to the majestic entrance of the castle. Along the way you can take pictures of the beautiful Bavarian scenery that frames all three castles.
 The entrance ticket is timed. No photography is allowed of the interiors. It takes about 45 minutes to complete the guided tour.
 King Ludwig built a beautiful castle using his vivid imagination. No wonder 1.5 million visitors flock in every year to check it out.