This summer might have been cold, wet and windy where I live, but the summer has been marked as another year with record-breaking heat right across the globe, from China to North Africa and North America to parts of Europe. July was the hottest month on record since 1880, see also NASA. Thus, thus the need for ways to cool things is a top-priority. We need to find ways to cool buildings more efficiently. Elephant-skin has inspired biomimicrists to develop designs that help keep buildings well ventilated and cool.
Desert snails!
You might be surprised to find snails in the desert. Biologists have found live specimen of the desert snail withdrawn in the shell. The shells have been found on the surface in mid-summer. The shells were fully exposed to the harsh sun and heat. The shell protects the snail against the sun. The desert snail can survive temperatures up to 70 degrees C and it may not rain for years.
During the heat of the warm days in the desert the snail retreats into the upper whorl of the shell. The temperature is cooler there, but it is important that the snail does not fill the whole whorl and that it leaves most of the largest whorl filled with air. The surface of their shells is reflective, and this means that the snail does not heat up to the same temperature as the soil surface. The reflectance of these desert snails is about 90%.
In hot dry climate a curved surface maintain lower temperatures. It also reflects more radiation as compared to flat surfaces. Students can study architecture in hot climates and make models of their own cool houses. White coatings and tiles could be used to mimic the desert snail’s shell.
Discover, Explore, Create & Evaluate!
Biomimicry for Young Children 
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