Just as the cost of solar energy has been dropping precipitously, innovations sprout to accelerate the trend while improving the technology. In a recent example of biomimicry applied to solar, Oak Ridge National Lab was inspired by the moth’s eye to create an antireflective coating that increases solar conversion efficiency up to 6 percent, and by the lotus leaf to make that coating highly water repellent—essentially self-cleaning since bouncing rain drops collect dust and particles.
Moth’s eye and lotus leaf inspire more efficient, easier to maintain solar panels
More of Today's Solutions
This beautiful concrete home has trees spilling out the windows
We don’t typically publish stories about the design of individual homes, but sometimes you need to give credit where it’s due. In Ha Long, ...
Read MoreAmericans are finally starting to embrace the bidet
Bidet sales are up in America! Editorial confession: We’ve been hoping to write something like that for a long time. If you don’t know ...
Read MoreNew implant cools nerves and cuts pain, reducing opioid need
In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic, medical researchers are developing viable alternatives to pain management. While opioids have proven effective at managing pain, ...
Read MoreTova Friedman survived Auschwitz—Now she’s sharing her story on TikTok
Visitors routinely overwhelm Tova Friedman's TikTok account with tough questions, such as: Why didn't she try to flee Auschwitz? Could she hear screams coming ...
Read More
