If only there was a way to make your kitchen countertop germ free. Wait. There is! A new discovery by Australian scientists could soon be a reality. They accidentally discovered a material called black silicon.

The material was discovered back in 1990s by some Harvard folk, but the scientists only recently stumbled across its antibacterial properties after studying how the wings of cicadas and dragonflies.

The nanostructures shaped like little pillars on the wings effectively shred and kills any bacteria that try to call the material home. The spikes on it are 500 nanometers high. Because of this, bacteria can't land on the surface without being destroyed by the spikes.

So imagine this material on just about any surface top you have. The scientists who discovered black silicon's antibacterial properties are optimistic that they can produce synthetic nano-materials that will have the same effect.  [AFP]

Image via Wikipedia