Scientists Develop Spider-Like Surface That Repels Water

Researchers at the University of Florida believe they've created a surface that repels water -- inspired by one of nature's eight-legged friends.

Engineers said they replicated the shape and patterns of the hairs that grow on spiders to create a "nearly perfect hydrophobic interface" on small pieces of flat plastic, ScienceDaily.com reported.

The spider was the inspiration for the project because it uses its water-repelling hairs to stay dry or avoid drowning, the Web site reports.  When water hits their bodies, it picks up and carries dirt with it, making the surface self cleaning.

Researchers believe this discovery could be used for food packing and windows -- and in making boats faster and more efficient.

Wolfgang Sigmund, a professor of materials science and engineering, told ScienceDaily.com that the plastic hairs -- placed in random and chaotic ways -- vary in size but average about 600 millionths of a meter.

Close-up photographs of water on the surface show that the droplets maintain their spherical shape. Sigmund said his surface is the first to shuttle droplets with no tail, ScienceDaily.com reports.

While some water-repelling surfaces already exist, Sigmund's "spider" surface may reportedly be the most water phobic.

Click here to read the full report from ScienceDaily.com