Hasta La Ideas

Toronto-based WhalePower Corp. is using the fins of humpback whales to help design a better fan (and, hopefully, wind turbine). US scientists discovered some time ago that the little bumps on the Humpback whale’s fins result in less drag and better lift when compared to a smooth fin. A fan blade with similar bumps makes the fan quieter, more efficient, and better at pushing down air, according to Envira-North, the company that has licensed the WhalePower design. Fans using WhalePower’s design could use 20 percent less energy, and now that fans are incorporating the design, WhalePower will continue to work to apply the idea to wind turbines.brbr