BUTTERFLY WINGS - Inspiration for Waterproof Clothing - Researchers recently published some amazing water-repelling results that mimic butterfly wings’ tiny scales. These insects’ wings resist water with a marvelous efficiency that could inspire better design in everything from textiles to windfarms and even aircraft engines. Previous studies on water-shedding technology focused on mimicking the waxy coating found on lotus leaves. These “super-hydrophobic” surfaces could revolutionize things like rain jackets and aircraft wings - the more closely these engineers copy God-designed features like butterfly wings, the more perfect their engineering solutions become - What is the best way to shed water? Researchers writing in the journal Nature recently published some amazing water-repelling results that mimic butterfly wings’ tiny scales. These insects’ wings resist water with a marvelous efficiency that could inspire better design in everything from textiles to windfarms and even aircraft engines. Water slides off slick surfaces, so studies on water-repellency have typically involved plant leaves like the lotus. The group experimented with surfaces they created, as well as with Morpho butterfly wings and plant leaves. The team captured video images of water drops colliding with their engineered, ridged material then splitting in half, beading, and falling away. After results like these, is there any room for improvement? Previous studies on water-shedding technology focused on mimicking the waxy coating found on lotus leaves. Ironically, simply making a surface slick — the intuitive approach — did not do the trick.

 

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Butterfly Wings

Inspiration for Waterproof Clothing?

Researchers recently published some amazing water-repelling results that mimic butterfly wings’ tiny scales. These insects’ wings resist water with a marvelous efficiency that could inspire better design in everything from textiles to windfarms and even aircraft engines. Previous studies on water-shedding technology focused on mimicking the waxy coating found on lotus leaves. These “super-hydrophobic” surfaces could revolutionize things like rain jackets and aircraft wings - the more closely these engineers copy God-designed features like butterfly wings, the more perfect their engineering solutions become

BY BRIAN THOMAS, M.S.

What is the best way to shed water?

Researchers writing in the journal Nature recently published some amazing water-repelling results that mimic butterfly wings’ tiny scales.

These insects’ wings resist water with a marvelous efficiency that could inspire better design in everything from textiles to windfarms and even aircraft engines.

Water slides off slick surfaces, so studies on water-repellency have typically involved plant leaves like the lotus.

In this newer study, a group of MIT engineers coated silicon surfaces with tiny ridges that look like the scales on butterfly wings, and this made water drops bounce off 40 percent faster than the previous lotus-based technology.

The group experimented with surfaces they created, as well as with Morpho butterfly wings and plant leaves.

Senior author of the study Kripa Varanasi told BBC News, “For years industry has been copying the lotus. They should start thinking about copying butterflies and nasturtiums.”

Nasturtium is the scientific name for watercress plants.

The team captured video images of water drops colliding with their engineered, ridged material then splitting in half, beading, and falling away.

After results like these, is there any room for improvement?

“Our studies used single ridges. But in butterfly wings you have ridges that are intersecting - they break droplets into four,” Varanasi said.

A video clip accompanying the Nature article abstract illustrates portions of this concept.

Previous studies on water-shedding technology focused on mimicking the waxy coating found on lotus leaves.

Ironically, simply making a surface slick — the intuitive approach — did not do the trick.

Tiny bumps spaced at the same intervals as butterfly-wing ridges repelled water far better by reducing the time water spent on that surface.

Those ridges possess just the right sizes and shapes to fragment water drops into smaller beads that quickly disperse.

And the faster the water runs off, the drier an object remains.

These “super-hydrophobic” surfaces could revolutionize things like rain jackets and aircraft wings, if only they could be durably designed and efficiently produced.

The more closely these engineers copy God-designed features like butterfly wings, the more perfect their engineering solutions become.

 

Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.

 

The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) wants people to know that God’s Word can be trusted in everything it speaks about—from how and why we were made, to how the universe was formed, to how we can know God and receive all He has planned for us.

After 50 years of ministry, ICR remains a leader in scientific research within the context of biblical creation. Founded by Dr. Henry Morris in 1970, ICR exists to conduct scientific research within the realms of origins and Earth history, and then to educate the public both formally and informally through professional training programs, through conferences and seminars around the country, and through books, magazines, and media presentations.

https://www.icr.org/article/butterfly-wings-inspiration-for-waterproof/