Problem:
Air pollutants are poisonous and a major problem in many places. Inhaling them can increase health risks.
Biomimicry Idea:
The wiry tentacles on moss captures fog, however, they also capture air pollutants. Because of this we can’t mimic moss to capture water, but we can capture pollutants. If people in the more polluted areas, like large cities, plant moss on vertical gardens placed around or inside buildings, the air outside, and inside will be much clearer.
Building with moss wall to catch air pollution
How does nature help moss absorb water?
Moss has a soft and squishy texture which helps it absorb water from water vapor. Water slowly builds up on it’s wiry tentacles and is absorbed into the plant. However, moss doesn’t only collect water vapor, but also the pollutants inside of the vapor. This makes moss the perfect pollution monitor.
From the US Forest Service:
“Finding the connection between moss and air pollution”
Moss has been used to detect air pollution in forests since the 1960s. Moss doesn’t have roots; it’s like a sponge, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air, as well as contaminants. These contaminants are stored in the moss tissues, making them a living record of pollution levels in the surrounding environment. Because some species of moss are very sensitive to air pollution, they are indicators of good or bad air quality. If certain sensitive species are declining, it’s an indication that the air quality is declining.”
Source: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/research/2016/mar/index.shtml