March 10, 2010
Spiders Help Scientists Invent New Wonder Material
The hair on the arachnids inspire researchers to develop a new kind of
surface that never gets wet.
Spiders Help Scientists Invent New Wonder Material
The hair on the arachnids inspire researchers to develop a new kind of
surface that never gets wet.
SUMMARY: Scientists have invented a new flat surface that refuses to get
wet, but they couldn't have done it without the help of spiders. The new
surface is also self-cleaning because water on it can pick up and carry off dirt
as it is being repelled. The material may be ideal for food packaging, windows,
solar cells that must stay clean, and boat hulls.
What makes the surface unique is that, unlike shoe wax and car windshield
treatments, it doesn't rely on chemicals. Instead, the surface repels water by
mimicking the shape and patterns of a spider's hair. Spiders "have short
hairs and longer hairs, and they vary a lot. And that is what we mimic," said
Wolfgang Sigmund, a professor at the U. of Florida.
Spiders use their water-repelling hairs to stay dry or avoid drowning. Water
spiders can even capture air bubbles with their hairs, bubbles they carry
underwater to help them breathe. Five years ago Sigmund began
experimenting with microscopic fibers designed like the spider hair. Making
all the fibers the same size and distance apart didn't work. After learning that
spider hairs vary in length and shape, he began to mimic "nature" by
randomly spacing the fibers and varying their size.
The technique can even keep sponges from getting wet. The surface may
also be safer than other water-proofing materials because it doesn't rely on
chemicals. Sigmund is working on a version that can repel oil. He says he is
getting a lot of interest from industry.
To read the entire article, click on this link to YAHOO / LIVE SCIENCE.
COMMENT: Does this story prove that spiders are smarter than humans?
Of course not, but it does once again demonstrate the Creator's practice of
giving even lowly creatures like spiders wonderful features that intelligent
humans have not been able to develop on their own.
The list of examples in which inventors have used nature to inspire their own
creations continues to grow longer and longer. Whole books have been
written about this process, called biomimicry. We must marvel at God's
wisdom in how He has designed nature and nature's living creatures.
If we think these examples are amazing, we haven't seen anything yet. God
has promised us a life that will never end, a life completely free of sickness,
sadness, and sin, a life in a whole new world we can;t even dream about.
However, only those who have received the Holy Spirit, repented of their sins,
and come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior can hope to one day enter
this Paradise.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
Are 3-D television sets on their way?
****************************************************************************************************
0 Comments
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including
those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity
or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please
allow several hours for it to appear on the blog.
wet, but they couldn't have done it without the help of spiders. The new
surface is also self-cleaning because water on it can pick up and carry off dirt
as it is being repelled. The material may be ideal for food packaging, windows,
solar cells that must stay clean, and boat hulls.
What makes the surface unique is that, unlike shoe wax and car windshield
treatments, it doesn't rely on chemicals. Instead, the surface repels water by
mimicking the shape and patterns of a spider's hair. Spiders "have short
hairs and longer hairs, and they vary a lot. And that is what we mimic," said
Wolfgang Sigmund, a professor at the U. of Florida.
Spiders use their water-repelling hairs to stay dry or avoid drowning. Water
spiders can even capture air bubbles with their hairs, bubbles they carry
underwater to help them breathe. Five years ago Sigmund began
experimenting with microscopic fibers designed like the spider hair. Making
all the fibers the same size and distance apart didn't work. After learning that
spider hairs vary in length and shape, he began to mimic "nature" by
randomly spacing the fibers and varying their size.
The technique can even keep sponges from getting wet. The surface may
also be safer than other water-proofing materials because it doesn't rely on
chemicals. Sigmund is working on a version that can repel oil. He says he is
getting a lot of interest from industry.
To read the entire article, click on this link to YAHOO / LIVE SCIENCE.
COMMENT: Does this story prove that spiders are smarter than humans?
Of course not, but it does once again demonstrate the Creator's practice of
giving even lowly creatures like spiders wonderful features that intelligent
humans have not been able to develop on their own.
The list of examples in which inventors have used nature to inspire their own
creations continues to grow longer and longer. Whole books have been
written about this process, called biomimicry. We must marvel at God's
wisdom in how He has designed nature and nature's living creatures.
If we think these examples are amazing, we haven't seen anything yet. God
has promised us a life that will never end, a life completely free of sickness,
sadness, and sin, a life in a whole new world we can;t even dream about.
However, only those who have received the Holy Spirit, repented of their sins,
and come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior can hope to one day enter
this Paradise.
****************************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
****************************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Are 3-D television sets on their way?
****************************************************************************************************
0 Comments
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including
those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity
or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please
allow several hours for it to appear on the blog.
| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
Sets capable of showing images in 3 dimensions
were a big hit at this year's Consumer Electronics
Show. The first sets should arrive in stores
sometime this year. Viewers will need special
glasses to view 3-D programming just as they do
in theaters with 3-D movies.
Source: BottomLine Personal (March 1, 2010)
were a big hit at this year's Consumer Electronics
Show. The first sets should arrive in stores
sometime this year. Viewers will need special
glasses to view 3-D programming just as they do
in theaters with 3-D movies.
Source: BottomLine Personal (March 1, 2010)
