The wings of Gentoo penguins have inspired researchers at McGill University, Canada to find a potential solution to ice build-up in places including wind turbines, electricity towers, or airplane wings.
Gentoo penguins have inspired researchers at McGill University, Canada to find a potential solution to ice build-up in places including wind turbines, electricity towers, or airplane wings.
McGill researchers develop a potentially chemical-free solution to ice build up on electric wires, wind turbines and possibly even airplane wings Ice buildup on powerlines and electric towers brought the northern US and southern Canada to a standstill during the Great Ice Storm of 1998, leaving many in the cold and dark for days and even weeks. Whether it is on wind turbines, electric towers, drones, or airplane wings, dealing with ice buildup typically depends on techniques that are time consuming, costly and/or use a lot of energy, along with various chemicals. But, by looking to nature, McGill researchers believe that they have found a promising new way of dealing with the problem. Their inspiration came from the wings of Gentoo penguins who swim in the ice-cold waters of the south polar region, with pelts that remain ice-free even when the outer surface temperature is well below freezing. We initially explored the qualities of the lotus leaf, which is very good at shedding water bu