Swimsuits crafted from shark skin
In the skies above us, a quiet revolution is underway. Airlines are increasingly coating their planes with materials inspired by the humble shark skin. This innovation, inspired by the unique microscale riblet structure of shark skin, has significant applications in aeronautics, aiming to improve aerodynamic efficiency and fuel economy.
Shark skin is covered with tiny, flat teeth-like scales that reduce drag, a concept now being mimicked in biomimetic technology. These scales create micro-grooves that reduce turbulent vortices and skin friction drag, leading to improved airflow over aircraft surfaces.
While the specific recent research articles from 2025 do not detail shark skin biomimicry in aeronautics directly, the field of biomimetic materials and structures continues to advance rapidly. The shark skin effect is part of this trend, with drag-reducing surfaces inspired by shark skin riblets being used experimentally and in prototype coatings for aircraft wings and turbine blades.
The benefits of this shark skin-inspired technology are not limited to the skies. In 2008, Olympic swimmers broke records when they donned swimsuits that copied the same shark skin structure, demonstrating the performance enhancement provided by these materials in water.
However, it's important to note that the fuel savings from the shark skin coating on planes are less pronounced than in water. Nevertheless, every little bit helps in an industry that consumes vast amounts of fuel.
Biomimetic technology is expanding across various fields, including robotics, sensing, materials science, and energy storage. Innovations in soft robotics, bio-inspired materials, and sensor technologies are all part of this broader trend. The shark skin drag reduction concept fits within the category of bio-inspired materials and surface engineering that aims to optimize flow dynamics by reducing viscous resistance.
Ongoing biomimetic research and developments, as showcased at conferences like Living Machines 2025, indicate continued interest and advancement in these nature-inspired engineering solutions. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft in our skies.
Science and technology are intertwined in the continual advancement of innovative bodily-inspired materials and structures, such as the shark skin design used in the recent research for efficient aircraft surfaces and turbine blades. These improvements aim to yield not only a significant reduction in turbulent vortices and skin friction drag in the skies but also improvements in flow dynamics in various other fields, including robotics and sensing, thanks to the ongoing investigations in biomimetic technologies.
