Daily Devotional – July 28

Design

What are scientists up to now? They are making a “robosnail,” a snail-like robot. Why would a scientist be copying a slimy snail? If you want to build something that moves over all terrains, what better creature to copy? A snail creeps forward on a layer of gooey slime; thicker goo allows it to move faster, while thinner slime offers more resistance. The ten-inch “robosnail” is a mass of gears, wiring and pieces of plastic that creates a series of slow, undulating waves along its rubbery membrane “foot”, which allows it to creep forward slowly. “Robosnail” is only able to move on flat surfaces.

Today, surprisingly, scientists are finding that liquids on a smaller scale behave in a different way. The smaller the scale, the more “sticky” a liquid seems to be. For example, when maple syrup is on a plate and you move your finger back-and-forth, the area covered by the thinnest layer of syrup is the hardest to move through. Scientists still have much to learn. You could say we trail the snail in technology. God knew what He was doing when he designed such a “slick” way of moving.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name;

~ Psalm 29:2a

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.