Many insects secrete a thin, oily film that helps them adhere to surfaces, but the porous surface of the carnivorous pitcher plant holds on to water, rendering such adhesive films useless. Harvard scientists created Slips (slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces), which repels both water and oil, as well as bacteria, using the pitcher plant as their inspiration. “We don’t want buildup on surfaces for lots of reasons, whether it’s on furniture, or the sides of tanks,…
8 innovations inspired by nature’s genius
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