Sharklet: The Antimicrobial Properties of Sharkskin

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Last post we learned that the unique pattern of sharkskin allows the animals to reduce drag and move more efficiently through  the water. But that's not the only advantage to the small scales covering sharks. It turns out that the fish's scales also prevent microorganisms from attaching and growing. 

Sharkskin: Small Ridges Create Huge Efficiency

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For decades, engineers have been concerned with movement efficiency based on the shape and smoothness of an object. The conventional rule was the smoother an object was, the more efficiently it would move through a fluid. Within the past 10-15 years or so, that has been starting to change. Sharkskin holds the secret to creating greater hydrodynamic and efficient machines.