Fly Papers Fact #10

When it comes to creating slippery surfaces, Nepenthes plants are the experts. Their pitchers are super slippery - all the better to send bugs sliding down inside.

Recognising the Nepenthes' superiority in this area, scientists have copied their techniques, and made a new kind of extra-slip surface that could be used for anything from self-cleaning windows, to faster, more efficient water pipes.

Read more here.

Photo courtesy of Alastair Robinson at en.wikipedia