Not to be boring and repetitive, but this is a perfect example of why we need to keep our funding of basic sciences up and eliminate the brain drain happening with labs closing due to inadequate funding. This is a U.S. team of engineers at MIT; if they close shop and head to another country to continue their work because they lose their funding, the US loses the revenue on patents and products from this break-through while some other country gains. I think that's unacceptable.
A perfect example of why basic research is necessary as well. Without knowledge of the physics of water behavior and morphology of nasturtium leaves and butterfly wings, this couldn't be used to improve existing waterproof designs. A research project titled "The biology of butterfly wings" sounds like a complete waste of money until you see how it can be translated to something useful and that translation isn't always readily apparent.
US engineers have created the "most waterproof material ever" - inspired by nasturtium leaves and butterfly wings.
The new "super-hydrophobic" surface could keep clothes dry and stop aircraft engines icing over, they say.
The lotus leaf was thought to be the gold standard for staying dry in nature, but now a team from MIT in Boston say they have surpassed it
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Adding tiny ridges to a silicon surface made water bounce off it 40% faster than the previous "limit". By applying these patterns to metals, fabrics and ceramics, the scientists hope to inspire a new generation of moisture-resistant products - from tents to wind turbines.
The quicker they roll off a power line, the less chance of it corroding - or freezing over.
Published in the journal Nature: Reducing the contact time of a bouncing drop
James C. Bird, Rajeev Dhiman, Hyuk-Min Kwon & Kripa K. Varanasi
Nature 503, 385–388 (21 November 2013), doi:10.1038/nature12740
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"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
