The Nature's 100 Best is a new book to be released later in 2010 that gives an insight into the platform technologies that are likely to generate the green jobs of the future. These technologies have the potential to steer business towards sustainability especially among the younger generations eager to shape the future.

Put together by the Zeri Foundation and Japanese partners, Nature's 100 Best is the top 100 technologies out of the 2,134 they've found so far. They are ranked according to their business-model re-shape and development potential, their portfolio of intellectual property, their contribution to the goals of the United Nations, their potential job generation and the speed with which these technologies could reach the mass market.

The Namib Beetle technique for gathering fresh water out of 'thin air'

One example proving highly effective comes from research carried out on the Namib beetle (also known as Genus Stenocara). Found in southern Africa's Namib Desert, the beetle has an ingenious ability to capture its drinking water from the early morning fog that rolls off the Atlantic Sea. This is an imperative survival technique for the beetle, who's environment consists of the highest sand dunes in the world and a typical annual rainfall of 40mm.

So how does it achieve this?

The morning fog carries a large amount of water, but unfortunately its incredibly difficult to aggregate. On average, the water droplets are just one-thousandth of an inch across. This means they generally don't fall to the ground, and are instead, carried away by the wind and evaporated by the rising sun. To harvest this water, the beetle (a member of the tenebrinoid family) has microscopic bumps and troughs across its hard shelled wings that are positively and negatively charged. The bumps being hydrophilic (water loving) and non-greasy, attract the water, upon which it coalesces. Once large enough, the water droplets break away from the bumps' electrostatic grip and slide down into the troughs which are hydrophobic (water-repellant). Coated with a repelling wax, the water continues to slide down to the beetles mouth. By standing with its head facing upwind and its rear raised, the beetle increases its aggregating abilities.

How can we use this technology?

Now that we understand how the beetle achieves this, engineers and scientists are able to replicate this technique. By using other hydrophilic surfaces, the technology can be manipulated to work in a variety of conditions. Placing collection systems above cooling towers, recaptures up to 10% of the water vapour lost during the creation of electricity. The distilled water can then be re-used by the plant,. This, in turn could lower energy bills. Another vital use could be seen in refugee camps, where the technology can be placed on the sides of tents. Walls can be made to create artificial water falls in what would otherwise appear waterless landscapes. Highly effective and none polluting, its understandable why this research has been placed in the top 100 of Nature's 100 Best.

(Download the building services journal from 2005 which gives a detailed outline of the technology and its applications.)

2010 has been declared 'The International Year of Biodiversity'. Here at Saveit4aSong, we recognise that there is still so much more to learn from nature and that a major shift in the way we value and conserve it, will benefit us all. If you are interested in finding out more about Nature's 100 Best, or wish to pre-order a copy of the book go to their website.