 The use of antibacterial and antifouling materials has become increasingly important due to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria and the spread of infectious diseases. Researchers are looking to nature for inspiration as many natural materials possess antibacterial properties. Cicada wings, dragonfly wings, shark skin and rose petals all contain nanoscale structures which can be replicated to create synthetic materials with similar properties. Synthetic materials can be designed using these structures to create effective antibacterial and antifouling materials. Additionally, new fabrication methods have been developed to create these structures on synthetic materials. This article was authored by Shruti Venagopal Oipath, Avinash Bhaji, Mojtava Abtahi and others.