

When a dog shakes itself off, most people see muddy droplets befouling their sofa. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology see complex fluid dynamics. "You have to consider variables such as hair density, size, texture, oiliness and stiffness," says Andrew Dickerson, a graduate student in mechanical engineering. To crack the code of "dynamic water repellency", the team used high-speed videography to film and analyse shake footage of 40 animals including bears, mice and dogs. So how will this watershed benefit humankind? Modelling the dispersion of droplets could help improve washing machines, painting equipment and even the spin coaters used to apply thin films to silicon wafers. The researchers also cite the poor Mars rover, which lost power due to its inability to shake off accumulated dust.


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