Velcro, a fastener named from a combination of the words “velvet” and “crochet,” was invented by the Swiss engineer George de Mestral. He modeled Velcro after burrs that he found in nature. He learned that nylon was the best material to use to make Velcro.

George de Mestral was an engineer from Switzerland who had a curious mind. After studying burrs stuck to his dog’s fur, Mestral decided to create a new kind of fastener. Velcro, the product that Mestral created, is a hook-and-loop fastener that works the same

way burrs work in nature.

George de Mestral was the engineer who invented Velcro, a type of hook-and-loop fastener modeled after burrs Mestral found stuck to his dog’s fur. Mestral overcame many obstacles as he worked to produce Velcro. Today, Velcro is commonly used to fasten a

variety of materials.

A curious man, George de Mestral noticed one day that burrs were stuck to his dog’s fur. He looked at these burrs under a microscope and saw that tiny hooks on the burrs allowed them to latch onto the fur. Mestral went on to invent Velcro, which uses hooks similar to

those found on the burrs.

could serve as a source of water for desert travelers

struggles to survive in a dry part of the world

uses its wings to stay cool in an arid environment

is able to provide itself with water in the absence of rain

releases a waxy substance that covers its back

positions its body in a specific way

creates bumps and troughs on its wings

opens its mouth to drink the water in the air

prove that water can be obtained from moist air

explain how an animal has adapted to living in a hostile environment

show how people can apply designs from nature to create solutions to global problems

emphasize that water is a scarce resource in many areas on Earth

The creators of both inventions experimented with different materials.

The inventions were both inspired by the same environment.

The models for both inventions were discovered in unexpected sources.

The inventions received the same amount of support in the beginning.

Simple inventions can provide for basic necessities.

Inventors can find ideas by carefully observing nature.

Selecting the appropriate materials for an invention can be challenging.

Inventions have the greatest chance of success when large companies manufacture them.

The water-collection panels took years to create, while Velcro was created in a short period of time.

The water-collection panels are made of synthetic materials, while Velcro is made of natural materials.

The design of the water-collection panels has changed many times, while the design of Velcro has changed very little.

The water-collection panels are intended to solve a specific problem, while Velcro is designed to be applied in many different situations.

Mestral’s invention has proved to be financially successful.

Mestral’s invention is able to replenish something found in nature.

Mestral’s invention can be used to solve more than one problem.

Mestral’s invention inspired new uses beyond its original purpose.

Velcro is an expensive item to reproduce, whereas the water-collection panels are made from affordable materials

Velcro has been replaced by other inventions, whereas the water-collection panels are still being used

Velcro has become a commonplace item, whereas the water-collection panels are not widely used

Velcro is useful only in the clothing industry, whereas the water-collection panels can be used in many industries