[Breaking News]160301-Desert beetles used to get water from air
Scientists have found one answer to water shortages. It is a new material that collects water from the air. They got the idea from a beetle that lives in an African desert. The deserts in Namibia are very dry, but the Namib beetle is an expert at surviving in dry conditions. Its shell is covered in small bumps that collect drops of water from the air. It is enough to keep the beetle alive. Scientists studied the shape and material of the bumps. They now want to make their own materials that can collect water from the air. This will help people who live in very dry areas.
The scientists say this technology could help in many areas of our life. They said it could help power plants. It could also help with heating and air conditioning. One scientist, Philseok Kim, said: "Thermal power plants, for example, rely on [things] to quickly convert steam to liquid water. [Our] design could help speed up that process and even allow for operation at a higher temperature." Another scientist, Joanna Aizenberg, said she was looking forward to getting more new technologies from nature. She said: "Everybody is excited about bio-inspired materials research."
