Daily Devotional – June 5

Biology

When looking at a pond, have you ever noticed bugs walking on the water? These bugs move across the surface of the pond so quickly that they are almost impossible to see. What you probably saw was a water strider. This small insect uses the surface tension of the water AND the design of its legs to walk on water.

The water strider is designed with feet that are covered with thousands of fuzzy, wax-coated hairs. Each of these tiny hairs is also covered with even smaller grooves. The leg hair of a water strider is vastly narrower than a human hair. When wet, the microscopic grooves trap air - which allows the water strider to essentially “float” on a cushion of air across the water’s surface. But a property of water called “surface tension” also comes into effect. Water molecules are attracted to each other and like to stay together. This creates surface tension that acts as a delicate membrane. Water striders move quickly across this water membrane reaching speeds equivalent to a person moving at 400 miles per hour. Engineers are now studying the legs of water striders in order to develop new water repellent fabrics and paints. They even speculate that water striders may lead to the design of miniature, floating robots to monitor water quality. Engineers are only copying what the Great Engineer designed in the beginning.

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered:...

~ Psalm 111:4

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.