Cool Butterfly Effect: Insect Equipment Could Inspire Heat-Radiating Tech

Devising better cooling materials has become a pressing issue as the climate warms, and some scientists are turning to nature for ideas. Small creatures with low body mass, such as insects, have to deal with the fact that they warm up much faster than large mammals. When butterflies land on tree branches to bask in the sun, for example, their relatively large wings can overheat within seconds. So they have evolved sophisticated ways to cool themselves. Researchers at Columbia University and Harvard University have now uncovered these colorful insects’ built-in cooling mechanisms. Their wings behave a bit like nanoscale radiators and could inspire new lightweight materials to beat the heat. Read Full Story in Scientific American.