From Mocking to Mimicking: The Humble Tree Teaches Tech 

Tree photosynthesis structures are validated
as the perfect design for solar capture down
to the nano-level: A testament to the Wisdom of God

 

Solar designers ‘bark up the right tree’ for efficiency

by Dr. Sarah Buckland-Reynolds 

Recent news made the rounds in April 2025 about ‘revolutionary’ breakthroughs in nanotechnology that could optimize the harnessing of solar energy seemingly like never before. Published in Frontiers in Energy Research journal, researcher Farajollahi reviewed the cutting-edge advancements, amassing literature from scientific discourse on nanotechnology from 1959 to the present. There was just one problem with the publicity: these ‘novel’ advancements in solar capture are actually grounded in ancient technology – rooted in the canopies of trees!  

The new research synthesis suggests that this biomimicked design of solar panels can improve the absorption of solar energy by 900% and improve efficiency by at least 10% overall when comparing conventional ‘flat’ designs. This engineering ingenuity is achieved by mimicking both the macro-level configurations typical of branching trees, and the characteristics of micro-level elements in leaves to optimize solar storage, capture and conversion into energy. 

While engineers celebrate this milestone in efficiency, is this implicit acknowledgement of efficient design in nature enough for them to turn the leaf and abandon the mocking story of tree evolution?

Branches of Brilliance Evolving Perfect Efficiency? 

The first principle of the engineering ingenuity of trees that led to improved designs of solar panels was allegedly conceptualized, not by a seasoned scientist, but by 13-year-old Aidan Dwyer. Dwyer observed the spiral design of tree branches and learned that this pattern was one example of an intricate mathematical ratio that was derived many centuries earlier (as early as 600 AD) as evident in many other elements in nature: The Fibonacci sequence. 

The Fibonacci patterns in tree branches and leaves (called ‘the Fibonacci spiral phyllotaxis’), enable trees to optimize their use of sunlight, regardless of the density of forest canopy. Observing this, Dwyer then had the idea to pioneer the application of tree branch designs to solar panels to improve solar panel efficiency, leading to the prototype model designed with his grandfather’s help. The mere copying of the design resulted in such profound improvements in efficiency that he was awarded the Young Naturalist Award from the American Museum of Natural History. Independent case studies and publications globally – in Bristol and as far away as India (published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in the past five years) confirm the enhanced efficiency of this arrangement. 

While this young man recognized design in nature as purposeful and worth replicating, paving the way to engineering innovation, the broader question is: Does the evolutionary literature view the Fibonacci sequence as an inbuilt design feature in nature? 

Watch this outstanding demonstration of Fibonacci numbers in nature: “Nature by Numbers” by Cristobal Vila. –Ed.

The Evolutionary Paradox Persists 

Under the influence of the Darwinian ‘tree of evolution’ ideology, the origin of the Fibonacci spiral phyllotaxis structure in trees has been long interpreted as merely a function of energy distribution rather than intelligent design. For example, a seminal 1920 publication by former botanist and lecturer at Oxford University, Arthur Harry Church, described this structure in plants as adaptation of energy in this way: 

It is now some time since a hypothesis was put forward which apparently suggested reasonable probability for regarding the general phenomena of rhythmic patterns presented by phyllotaxis-constructions in the great majority of higher plants as referable to propositions involving equal distribution of energy in the growing plant-apex……  (Church, 1920: On the interpretation of phenomena of phyllotaxis, p. 1.)

The evolutionary viewpoint also posits that this “distribution of energy” evolved gradually, with ‘400-million-year-old’ ancient versions of plants allegedly not following the Fibonacci sequence, then [out of necessity] eventually ‘evolving’ this pattern. This viewpoint is echoed by various papers published in journals such as Science, and New Phytollogist over the past 5 years (e.g., Turner et al (2023), Strauss et al (2019).

But just why do these scientists posit that this pattern, out of necessity, would have to evolve?

The Fibonacci sequence of many plants (with leaves tending precisely towards 137.5-degree angles) is said to have evolved to ensure plants efficiently capture light, for efficient seed packing, for increased efficiency, for increasing moisture to roots, to maximize airflow, to improve exposure for insect pollination, and the list goes on.

An intriguing story indeed!

…except there is no reasonable explanation for how these early plants could survive without having all the benefits of capturing light, enabling moisture to reach its roots while facilitating pollination. These benefits had to arise at the same time for survival while slowly adapting to precise angles of configuration over millions of years. Even more curious: How did mindless plants from diverse environments end up deriving such similar precise ratios with multiple co-benefits that even contemporary science marvels at? Here are some phrases found in the paper:

• “To further complicate things,” 
• “Making things even more complex,” 
• “Adding another layer of complexity,” 
• “Further deepening the complexity,” 
• “Making the situation more intricate,” 
• “Adding to the intricacy,” 
• “Introducing additional complexity,” 
• “Heightening the complexity,” 
• “Adding another dimension of complexity,” 

Numinous Nano-Complexities 

Heightening the complexity, the efficiency of trees’ structural configuration was not the only design that solar engineers thought worth copying. Deep within leaves there are micro-structures responsible for absorbing and channeling solar energy (chloroplasts), which themselves contain several even smaller microstructures called thylakoids. These contain chlorophyll (the pigment in most leaves responsible for photosynthesis). 

In mimicking this marvel, solar engineers are now including replicas of these structures in solar panels to enhance efficiency. This includes quantum dots and plasmonic nanoparticles to optimize energy conversion. According to Farajollahi’s research that we started with, this mimicry revolutionized the solar industry, moving it from the “first and second generation” solar cells that relied on single-crystal materials and thin films respectively, to an optimally efficient “third” (present) generation of solar technology using dyes that are sensitive to light (DSSCs: Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells). These replicate chlorophyll and even the organic molecules found in algae. 

But When will Mainstream Science Take a Bough and Credit the Master Engineer? 

Despite a growing adoption of these bio-inspired designs in engineering, the evolutionary story about their origin persists as a mainstay in biological literature, while engineers continue to self-credit the praise for God’s blueprints.  

Amidst all this, with or without explicit admission, as new frontiers in solar energy engineering are crossed, the growing fascination with biomimicry clearly shows that the designed features in nature are not random. Rather, they are operational and complex on multiple scales, operating at far greater efficiency than man’s imitations.

While evolutionists may cling to their beliefs in canopy cleverness evolving, and even if solar engineers refuse to give God credit for their shine, we may be assured that the trees themselves will continue to praise God. As Isaiah proclaimed,

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.” (Isaiah 44:23)

The next time we see some of these ‘simple’ trees around us that we often take for granted, let us remember: from the macro to the micro levels on earth, the wisdom and majestic power of our creator God always shines through. 

---

Dr. Sarah Buckland-Reynolds is a Christian, Jamaican, Environmental Science researcher, and journal associate editor. She holds the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona with high commendation, and a postgraduate specialization in Geomatics at the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. The quality of her research activity in Environmental Science has been recognized by various awards including the 2024 Editor’s Award from the American Meteorological Society for her reviewing service in the Weather, Climate and Society Journal, the 2023 L’Oreal/UNESCO Women in Science Caribbean Award, the 2023 ICETEX International Experts Exchange Award for study in Colombia. and with her PhD research in drought management also being shortlisted in the top 10 globally for the 2023 Allianz Climate Risk Award by Munich Re Insurance, Germany. Motivated by her faith in God and zeal to positively influence society, Dr. Buckland-Reynolds is also the founder and Principal Director of Chosen to G.L.O.W. Ministries, a Jamaican charitable organization which seeks to amplify the Christian voice in the public sphere and equip more youths to know how to defend their faith.