"Engineering Inspiration: Building Better Wind Turbines with Earth's Heaviest Bird"
Engineers are drawing inspiration from the Andean condor, the world's heaviest aerial bird, to improve wind turbine efficiency. By adding winglets to the ends of turbine blades, similar to the condor's wingtips, energy production can increase by an estimated 10 percent. The condor's aerodynamics, allowing it to glide long distances with minimal wing flapping, have influenced this bio-inspired design. This approach offers promise for more sustainable wind energy solutions and demonstrates the potential of biomimicry in engineering.