Science and Nature

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Join Joe Hanson as he explores curiosity and illuminates the science behind… well, everything.

The Weird Science That Lets Insects Fly in the RainThe Weird Science That Lets Insects Fly in the Rain

11m 6s

Imagine the scale of raindrops if you were the size of a small bird. Or mosquito. Flying through a drizzle should be deadly! Like flying through falling cars and boulders. And yet it’s not, because nature has given them a superpower—superhydrophobic surfaces that repel water and keep them airborne. How do these microscopic structures work? And how has modern engineering been inspired by them?

  • The Weird Science That Lets Insects Fly in the RainThe Weird Science That Lets Insects Fly in the Rain: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Weird Science That Lets Insects Fly in the RainThe Weird Science That Lets Insects Fly in the Rain

    S13 E1 - 11m 6s

    Imagine the scale of raindrops if you were the size of a small bird. Or mosquito. Flying through a drizzle should be deadly! Like flying through falling cars and boulders. And yet it’s not, because nature has given them a superpower—superhydrophobic surfaces that repel water and keep them airborne. How do these microscopic structures work? And how has modern engineering been inspired by them?

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