REAL LIFE NEWS: THE MOST WATERPROOF SURFACE EVER
by Hazed
Butterfly wings and nasturtium leaves have something in common: they are very, very waterproof. Droplets of water just run off them fast and never have a chance to soak into them.
US engineers have used them as an example and created a new “super-hydrophobic” material which could keep clothes dry and stop aircraft engines from icing up.
The team from MIT in Boston have added tiny ridges to a silicon surface which made water bounce off it 40% faster than the previous limit – similar ridges are found on the wings of the Morpho butterfly, and in the veins of Nasturtium leaves.
By applying these patterns to materials such as metals, fabrics and ceramics, the scientists hope they can produce a whole range of moisture-resistant products, from tents to wind turbines.
I look forward to the first new super-waterproof raincoats going on sale.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25004942
