Humanity's track record with 'unsinkable' isn't great, but researchers may have finally cracked it.
They created aluminium tubes with laser-etched interior surfaces that trap air, causing them to float regardless of damage, submersion time, or however many icebergs you throw at them.
The lasers create microscopic pits that make the surface superhydrophobic. When submerged, the tubes capture a stable air pocket that prevents flooding even when the structure is compromised. The team tested them in rough conditions for weeks, tilted them at severe angles, subjected them to “water impacts” (we assume they mean “waves”...), and punched in as many holes as they could. Regardless, it stayed afloat.
They drew inspiration from diving bell spiders which carry air bubbles underwater, and fire ants which make floating rafts using their water-resistant bodies. Beyond unsinkable ships, this technology could also capture energy incredibly efficiently from moving water, think wave power 2.0.
“Inspirational”
🧐 What’s in it for me? Applications will likely be mostly industrial in the short term: buoys, offshore platforms, emergency equipment, etc. But if this scales to shipbuilding, we’re likely to see a new era of maritime safety, or at least, a much more pleasant shipwreck experience.
💵 Out of the Lab: Superhydrophobic coatings have promised much and delivered little, but this approach is different; the structure is the solution, not a spray-on layer that wears off.
Lead researcher Chunlei Guo has received $1.5 million from the Gates Foundation to develop sanitation applications, suggesting commercial interest is building.
Aculon specialises in nanocoatings and could adapt quickly to structural superhydrophobic applications.
Eco Wave Power (NASDAQ: WAVE) could benefit if floating platform costs drop for wave energy generation.
Until next time, stay curious.
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