Biomimetic Programmable Materials - SLIPS Related Technology

http://wyss.harvard.edu/staticfiles/newsroom/pressreleases/tunable_material-300x374.jpg

"Imagine a tent that block light on a dry and sunny day, becomes transparent and water repellent on a dim, rainy day, or highly precise, self-adjusting contact lenses that also clean themselves. Or pipelines that can optimize the rate of flow depending on the volume of fluid coming through them and the environmental conditions outside." - Wyss Institute

Pitcher Plant inspires worlds "Slipperiest Surface"

http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc211/student%20papers/article10/Korynta,%20Brittany%20Joy/0199_Nepenthes_pitcher_plant.jpg

In any system where liquid is handled or encountered, unwanted liquid-surface interactions are usually a limiting factor. They trigger blood clotting in biological interfaces, nucleate icing, create drag in transport systems, and promote biofouling. We already know that the microstructure of the lotus leaf and the coatings it has inspired are known to exhibit superhydrophobicity  and self-cleaning when water rolls off of them. Despite this, the technology is still plagued with problems which restrict their practical application. They show poor performance with oils and fail under pressure or mechanical damage such as abrasions or torsion. In order to widen the range of application for these type of repellant surfaces, researchers at the university of Harvard have created a similarly functional technology inspired by the Nepenthes pitcher plant. Their new surface is essentially omniphobic, is composed of low cost materials, and self heals.