Nov 15, 2009 — Biomimetics is the new science of imitating nature – but why not save a step, and just copy the design directly? That’s what Aussie and British researchers did. They wanted a self-cleaning surface that could repel moisture and dust, so they made a template of an insect wing. And why not? “Insects are incredible nanotechnologists,” reported Science Daily. Their wings are self-cleaning, frictionless and super-water-repellant. Insect wings have these properties due to their properties at the scale of billionths of a meter. “For instance, some wings are superhydrophobic, due to a clever combination of natural chemistry...