Slippery find for optics

Scientists at Harvard University have developed what is claimed to be a virtually frictionless material.

Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces or SLIPS has been created as a biomimetric material of the carnivorous Pitcher plant and is expected to find applications in a range of industrial settings.

The material maintains its properties under extremes of pressure and temperature, is able to repair its own surface instantaneously and is simple and cheap to manufacture.

The ability of SLIPS to be made optically transparent and bacteria resistant also opens up the possibility of optical applications.

At last week's Vision Arena conference in London, optometrist Robin Reid suggested the material might find applications in contact lenses.