Sandgrouse feathers inspire innovative water-holding technology.
Scientists have used advanced imaging techniques to uncover the unique structural details that enable sandgrouse feathers to absorb and retain water so efficiently that male birds can fly more than 20 kilometers from a distant watering hole back to the nest and still retain enough water in their feathers for the chicks to drink and sustain themselves in the searing deserts of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. The feathers have a helically coiled structure close to their base and then a straight extension, which can hold water through capillary action. The study may inspire others to take a closer look at diverse feather microstructures across bird species.