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Years ago, German scientist Wilhelm Barthlott noticed that microbumps on the surface of the lotus plant could ball up rainwater and pearl off dirt from its surface, leaving it clean and dry. Barthlott called this self-cleaning structure the Lotus Effect.

German company Sto draws on the Lotus Effect to make its facade paint, called StoLotusan. The company says that when the paint dries, it is highly water and dirt repellent, keeping buildings cleaner for longer periods of time.

Photo by Sto