Nature Example
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The Desert Beetle's Drink
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license
The Namib Desert beetle lives in one of the driest places on Earth. So, how does it get water? It "catches" it from the air!
How it works:
In the early morning, a cool fog blows in from the sea. The beetle climbs a sand dune and does a 'headstand'. Its back is bumpy and cool. The water vapour (gas) in the air hits its cool back and condenses into liquid water droplets. The droplets get bigger and bigger until they roll down the beetle's back, right into its mouth.
💡 Fun Facts
- The beetle's back has special waxy parts that the water slides off easily.
- This clever trick allows the beetle to drink in a place where it almost never rains.
- Scientists are copying the beetle's back to create new materials that can collect water from the air for people to drink.