Ice build-up can cause immense damage to infrastructure and lead to blackouts in some of the worst cases.
Whether it is on wind turbines, electric towers, drones, or aeroplane wings, dealing with the problem typically depends on techniques that are time-consuming, costly and use a lot of energy, along with various chemicals.
A team of researchers from McGill University in Canada believe they have found a promising new way of dealing with the problem after studying 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 but proved less effective at shedding ice,” said associate professor Anne Kietzig, who has been looking for a solution for close to a decade.
“It was only when we started investigating the qualities of penguin feathers...
