Fungus-like protuberances can help tall chimneys and towers withstand high winds, according to scientists at Imperial College, London (GB 2 362 938). If smoothly curved “growths”, like bracket fungi on a tree, are regularly spaced around a chimney, wind drag is drastically reduced. The best size for the protuberance is between a quarter and a half the chimney’s diameter, with a repeat distance of around six times the diameter. The same system could allow oil rigs and wind-turbine supports to resist winds, Imperial says. It could also be used on undersea cables to reduce tidal drag.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Google shouldn’t be pressuring schools to use its AI
91ɫÇéƬ
Technology
Australia’s social media ban faces high court challenge
News
Technology
The nuclear waste repository in Finland designed to outlast modern civilisation
Features
Technology
How did the biggest crypto heist in history just happen?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles