It’s time for the sixth annual Tommies, my salute to the best of bio-inspired designs of 2014. As always, the 10 awardees are organized according to the natural organism inspiring the innovation.

This year’s cohort includes a range of clever developments and ideas that have been percolating for some years but were advanced in significant ways this year.

I hope you find my picks of 2014 as fascinating as I have.

Wishing all of my readers a bright and bio-inspired New Year!