From burrs to gourds: How nature inspires life-changing innovations
What do Velcro, cats’ eyes and the humble gourd have in common? They birthed practical solutions to everyday problems—from shoelace difficulties to the spread of deadly illnesses.
Written by Deborah Wolfe
on September 18, 2026
Ever watched kindergarten children get ready for recess? If so, you’ve likely given thanks for Velcro. “I can’t tie my shoooooes!” is less of a refrain now than when I was a little girl.
From jackets to mittens to home organization—not to mention its many uses in space shuttles—Velcro has made life easier for millions of people the world over.
But this fuzzy, sticky technology wasn’t born out of nowhere.
In 1941, a Swiss engineer grew curious about the burrs stuck in his dog’s fur, whenever the twosome emerged from the forest. What made them hang on so well? He reached for his microscope.
Often, nature’s ingenuity leads to human solutions, like when George de Mestral pulled burrs from his dog’s furr. (Photo credit: Public Domain)
Seeing the burrs’ natural hook-and-loop system, George de Mestral spent years turning the concept into the synthetic nylon fasteners we know today as Velcro.
Low-tech inventions for life
From airplanes to bullet trains to “cats eye” reflectors on our roads, nature-inspired concepts can improve life for many.
They even show up at the gym. Stretches found in the Pilates form of exercise imitate the movements of cats in a prisoner-of-war camp during the First World War, where Joseph Pilates was interned.
It’s called “biomimicry”—the practice of studying nature’s forms and processes as a way to solve human problems. Since nature already knows what it’s doing, why not copy it?
Cats Eye reflectors were inspired by the real thing: feline eyes shining brightly by the roadside, guiding one driver to safety. (Photo credit: iStock)
Stopping the spread of disease
You can spot “biomimicry” in World Vision’s work around the world—particularly when it comes to agriculture, food preservation, clean water and safe hygiene.
One example that’s captivated me is the simple “Tippy Tap,” a low-tech solution for safer handwashing.
Their original inspiration for Tippy Taps? The versatile Calabash gourd.
Prized for their hard shells and handy sizes, the gourds have proven useful for centuries in countries from Argentina to Zimbabwe. People hollow them out to carry water, produce and other goods. The long neck is a great spout for pouring.
Calabash gourds’ long necks made them excellent water containers for early tip taps. (Photo credit: Maren Winter, Dreamstime.com)
Dr. Jim Watt of the Salvation Army took inspiration from the gourds while working in Zimbabwe (then, Rhodesia) in the late 1970s. A Salvation Army officer, Watt served in the organization's hospital during Zimbabwe’s War of Independence.
During the war, a breakdown in the country’s services had led to a dangerous anthrax epidemic.
As a medical doctor, Watt understood how bacteria can spread—even during the very act of handwashing.
“How can a water pump or a bucket be sanitary if everyone touches the same water, the same handle?” one imagines him musing. Without soap, he likely observed, handwashing can’t do much to contain an outbreak.
This 1988 photo shows several children sharing handles on a water pump, allowing for the spread of viruses from surface contact. No soap is visible. (Zambia, 1988 | Photo credit: David Ward, World Vision)
The Tippy Tap was born
Inspired by the Calabash gourd, Watt created the prototype for what would later be known worldwide as the Tippy Tap. In the Shona language of Zimbabwe, people called it a “Mukombe” meaning gourd cup, or vessel.
Here’s how people learned to make them:
- Start with a dried, hollowed-out Calabash.
- Make one hole to use for filling with water.
- Make one hole for the hanging rope and the soap rope.
- Make one hole at the end of the spout.
- Gently tap the gourd so it tips forward, dispersing water.
Here’s a sketch from Dr. Jim Watt to show how the Calabash gourd model might work. (Rhodesia: late 1970s | Photo credit: Dr. Jim Watt, The Salvation Army)
Unleashing a torrent of change
In the decades that followed, the idea that started with a trickle from a gourd took the world by storm.
The Tippy Tap became a player in hygiene programs around the world, creating buzz with global organizations like UNICEF, WaterAid and World Vision.
Twelve-year-old Chris learned to make a Tippy Tap next as part of World Vision’s training to eliminate open defecation and to self-build sanitation facilities. (Uganda, 2025 | Photo credit: Brian Jakisa Mungu, World Vision)
As the decades passed, the Tippy Tap advanced to include:
- Foot pedals (made from stick and twine) to eliminate all hand contact and further contain the spread of germs.
- Jerry cans instead of gourds.
- Tripod sticks to hold up the Tippy Tap, even in areas with no trees. Erecting them close to latrines can improve handwashing habits.
- Adaptations including local natural materials like bamboo in different parts of the world.
Global reputation, local impact
In an era when infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and Ebola, high profile medical journals have shone a spotlight on the simple Tippy Tap.
Researchers emphasize the importance of identifying cost-effective techniques to enable people to wash their hands. They note that Tippy Taps have a great potential to improve health outcomes.
Here are some of the reasons they cite:
- Tippy Taps are affordable, easy to use and to build.
- Soap is attached for the elimination of bacteria.
- People can build them anywhere, including near homes and schools.
A well-made Tippy Tap uses just 40 - 50 milliliters of water per handwash compared to at least 300 - 500 milliliters from an ordinary tap or mug. (Zambia, 2025 | Photo credit: Kambani Phiri World Vision)
“Seeing the pride and joy …”
Children find Tippy Taps fun and even “humorous”, note some of the studies—meaning young people are likely to enjoy using them. Frequent handwashing reduces the spread of infections, from diarrhea to Ebola.
They can also be a source of pride, especially for families without running water at home.
“Seeing the pride and joy on Yazidi’s face as he demonstrated the Tippy Tap was unforgettable,” said one World Vision sponsor, after visiting her child in Uganda.
Tippy Taps are just one part of the hygiene puzzle. They’re only as good as people’s willingness to adopt them. That takes education.
Perhaps children like Yazidi will be a part of that new wave.