Ever since the discovery of the lotus effect in the early 1970s, researchers have designed and tested superhydrophobic surfaces with potential applications in self-cleaning, low-drag, anti-icing, and ...

Many plants are extremely water-repellent owing to their rough textures, which can trap air to provide a waterproof cushioning. In some cases, plant leaves are so repellent that no droplets can stick ...

Watery adaptation: The structure and shape of lotus leaves growing on water (left) and above it (right) is influenced by mechanical forces. (Courtesy: F Xu/Fudan University) When the leaves of the ...

Michael Kanellos is editor at large at CNET News.com, where he covers hardware, research and development, start-ups and the tech industry overseas. Researchers at Ohio State University have created ...

Splattered insects may seem like the least of your worries when you're tearing through the air at more than 500 mph (800 km/h), but for those working with Boeing's ecoDemonstrator 757 they present a ...

Floating lotus leaves retain their flat, circular shape thanks to the water that supports them. The leaves of a young lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) lie flat on the surface of ponds and lakes, with only ...