Leaf-Inspired Material Makes Different Fluids Flow in Opposite Directions

The material, which mimics the structure of an araucaria leaf, might one day be used to help clean oil spills. View in browser

Image credits: Lukasz Dro/Shutterstock Leaf-Inspired Material Makes Different Fluids Flow in Opposite Directions The material, which mimics the structure of an araucaria leaf, might one day be used to help clean oil spills. Benjamin Plackett, Contributor September 16, 2021                                                                                                                                                                                    (Inside Science) -- Liquids usually flow in the same direction, moving along the same path of least resistance. But a new study, published today in the journal Science, shows this isn't always the case. Researchers have created a new, spiky material and when water is applied to its surface, the water runs in one direction. Ethanol, however, flows the opposite way. The researchers were intrigued by the ratcheted and spiralized leaves of the araucaria plant, commonly known as the monkey puzzle tree, so they decided to investigate its properties out of nothing more than curiosity... Read more Copyright 2021 American Institute of Physics. Inside Science syndicates its articles, columns, blogs and videos to news organizations. To initiate syndication, or request permission to republish our content (on a one-time or continuing basis), please contact Inside Science at insidescience@aip.org. News organizations seeking permission to republish Inside Science content must fully credit Inside Science as the original source of the content, include the author byline, and republish the original, unaltered form (excluding content titles, headlines, or sub-headlines). The reprint format can be seen here. Copyright conditions and usage terms are subject to change at any time without consent or any type of prior notice. To unsubscribe from all future mailings from Inside Science please click here. To manage your email subscriptions please click here.

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