The creation of Velcro was actually inspired by burrs when Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, found them on his dog’s fur. When he put it under a microscope, he noticed these hooks that could easily become attached to almost anything, including clothing, hair and even other burrs. “Animals, plants, and microbes are the consummate engineers. They have found what works, what is appropriate, and most important, what lasts here on Earth,” Benyus explains.