Nature Meets Tech: Namib Desert Beetle Inspires Frost Control Technology
Airlines can now say goodbye to airplane frost, as science once again found inspiration in nature to prevent it from occurring.
According to Aerospace Technology, researchers from Virginia Tech found a way to prevent frost on aircraft surfaces and it's inspired by the Namib Desert Beetle.
The Namib Beetle lives in one of the hottest places on earth and its shell features bumps that collect moisture, which the beetle drinks using the flat paths that direct the water to the insect's mouth.
The researchers are well aware of the irony that an insect living in some of the hottest places on earth inspired a technology that will be used on preventing frost.
According to Jonathan Boreyko, assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics in Virginia Tech said that they used the beetle as inspiration on how they can control where dew drops grow on aircrafts.
According to Christian Science Monitor, the scientists succeeded in replicating the beetle's shell features on a silicon wafer, in a process called as "photolithography."
In the study, photolithography showed chemical patterns attracting water droplets, but the surface of the silicon wafer repels it. This resulted in keeping water droplets separated and running that prevented the growth of frost.
The researcher are extremely optimistic about the study and said that they believe it can be replicated in huge scale applications and for commercial use.
Patrick Collier, the co-author of the study said, "Keeping things dry requires huge energy expenditures, that's why we are paying more attention to ways to control water condensation and freezing. It could result in huge cost savings."
Despite the breakthrough, this is not the first time that the Namib Desert Beetle was used as an inspiration for technology. Back in 2012, a U.S. start-up company based its self-filling water bottle around the insect's natural ability to "source" water from air.
Nature has always been a big inspiration for technology. In fact, many gadgets or simple tech that people use today have been directly inspired by Mother Nature.
Many footwear companies used mountain goats in creating the sole of its shoes. Mountain goats are known for their hooves' outstanding traction, which help them climb extremely steep mountains.
Velcro may be common nowadays, but its discovery is fascinating. Inspired by how plants stick to dog hairs, a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral looked at the plants in the microscope and discovered that it contained "tiny hooks" that can stick on hair or other fibers.
He then developed a material based on this concept, which led to the birth of Velcro.
It seems when it comes to technology, Mother (Nature) still knows best.
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