Main content

30 Animals That Made Us Smarter Episodes

  1. Manta ray and pollution solution

    Will a ray save the day? It鈥檚 inspiring a way to prevent more pollution of our oceans

  2. Cats and road safety

    An inventor narrowly avoided a road accident thanks to the eyes of a cat

  3. Wasp and keyhole surgery

    Scared of wasps? They could help keep you alive, perhaps transforming life-saving surgery

  4. Camel and cool medicines

    Camels are cool. They cope with intense heat, inspiring a new way of storing medicines

  5. Squid and self-healing materials

    What if a robot could fix itself? It鈥檚 the story of the secret of scary squid suckers

  6. Woodpecker and black box

    A bird鈥檚 remarkable skull and the quest to protect aeroplane flight recorders. #30animals

  7. Whale and wind turbine

    The shape of flippers may help the efficiency of wind turbines, thanks to humpback whales

  8. Wasp and keyhole surgery

    Scared of wasps? They could help keep you alive, perhaps transforming life-saving surgery

  9. The preview

    "It鈥檚 about animals which have inspired us": Patrick Aryee explains all #30Animals

  10. Termite and ventilation system

    A building which heats and cools itself? How was that possible? Termites had the answer

  11. Tardigrade and vaccine transport

    A tiny creature that may help us make vaccines last longer to move them across the globe

  12. Stenocara beetle and water collector

    It performs headstands in a desert; now this beetle is teaching us how to collect water

  13. Squid and self-healing materials

    What if a robot could fix itself? It鈥檚 the story of the secret of scary squid suckers

  14. Sponge and skyscraper

    Ever heard of Venus鈥檚 Flower Basket? It鈥檚 the sponge inspiring bridges and skyscrapers!

  15. Spider and window glass

    How can we prevent millions of birds from being killed by flying into windows? #30Animals

  16. Spider and rescue robot

    Meet the spider-inspired robot that one day might just save your life

  17. Spider and remote sensing

    The design of spider webs could help us detect vibrations and turn them into electricity

  18. Snake and rescue robot

    Imagine being rescued by a snake! A new generation of wriggly robots could save your life

  19. Slug and surgical glue

    From goo to super glue! Slug slime may hold the key to mending wounds without stitches

  20. Shark and hospital surfaces

    Millions of ridged scales make it difficult for bacteria to attach to the skin of a shark

  21. Season 2 is coming soon!

    Get ready to meet 30 more amazing animals. Season 2 begins on 28 June #30Animals

  22. Sea otter and wetsuit

    Want a warm and waterproof wetsuit? Then take a look at how the sea otter does it!

  23. Rose butterfly and solar panels

    Their wings aren鈥檛 just for show! Butterflies can help us harness energy from sunlight

  24. Polar bear and insulation

    The science behind some fascinating fur could help humans keep warm in space

  25. Peacock and computer screen

    Unlocking the secrets of the dazzling colours in the tail of the peacock #30Animals

  26. Pangolins and Waterloo Station

    A tricky design challenge solved! All thanks to the scaly skin of the pangolin

  27. Octopus and transplants

    The remarkable dexterity of cctopus suckers might help improve delicate surgery

  28. Octopus and camouflage

    The eight-limbed master of disguise and surveillance technology. #30Animals

  29. Mussel and plywood

    How a trip to the beach led to the development of a glue and a formaldehyde-free plywood

  30. Mussel and foetal surgery

    Babies in the womb could be saved with the help of a glue based on mussel proteins

  1. Previous
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3