The 2003 Nobel Prize was awarded in part to Peter Agre of Johns Hopkins for his discovery, around 1990, of a membrane protein that allows water to pass through cell walls. The discovery of aquaporin solved a longtime problem in biochemistry.

Technical application:

water filters

Bionic application:

 

Further description:

 http://www.aquaporin.dk/85/aquaporins.aspx

Physical effects applied:

 

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Aquamembrane

Contact:

 

Sources and Picture-sources:

http://www.bloomberg.com/slideshow/2013-08-18/14-smart-inventions-inspired-by-nature-biomimicry.html#slide7