The Secret to Clean Wings

A butterfly’s wings are incredibly fragile. Even a tiny speck of dust or a drop of water can make it hard for them to fly. Yet, their wings always stay completely clean and dry. How do they do it?

Tiny Scales with Smart Designs

Scientists studying the Giant Blue Morpho butterfly discovered their secret. Although the wings look perfectly smooth, they’re actually covered in tiny, overlapping scales that look like shingles on a roof. Even smaller parallel grooves on these scales make dirt and water slide right off without any trouble.

Engineers are now trying to copy this texture to create high-tech industrial and medical coatings that repel water and dirt.

Learning from Nature

This is just one way modern science tries to copy designs found in the natural world. Nature is full of engineering marvels, from the micro to the macro scale, that have inspired mankind for centuries, says researcher Brian Bell.