When a dog shakes itself off, most people see muddy droplets befouling their nice new couch. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology see complex fluid dynamics at work. “There are so many variables to consider,” says Andrew Dickerson, a grad student in mechanical engineering. “Hair density, size, texture, oiliness, stiffness variability.” To crack the code of “dynamic water repellency,” the team armed itself with a $27,500 camera that can capture 1,200 frames per second, then spent 240 hours filming and analyzing shake footage of 27 drenched animals. They soaked nine dogs in their lab and several animals at the Atlanta zoo, including a 574-pound brown bear, with a garden hose. For rats and mice, they used spray bottles. So how will this watershed in scientific achievement benefit humankind? Modeling the dispersion of droplets could help improve washing machines, painting equipment, and even the spin coaters used to apply thin films to silicon wafers. The researchers also cite the poor Mars rover, which lost power due to its inability to shed accumulated dust. Maybe future space bots will be able to wriggle free of Martian dirt like a spaniel at the beach.

Photo: Getty

Credit: Bear & Robot footage: Getty