Canadian researchers have created a wired mesh inspired by Gentoo penguin feathers to naturally shed ice off surfaces and stave off the havoc that ice storms bring.
powerful, ice storms have taken a larger toll. In Texas last year, ice and snow snarled daily life and shut down the power grid, leading millions of people without heat, food and water for days and killing hundreds.
But those fixes have left lots to be desired, de-icing experts said. Wrapping materials don’t have a long shelf life. Using chemicals is time-intensive and harmful to the environment.Kietzig, whose research focuses on using nature to solve complex human problems, spent years trying to find a better way to manage ice. In the beginning, she thought the lotus leaf could be a candidate, since it naturally sheds water and self-cleans.