A ship during a particularly cold winter on Lake Michigan illustrates how waves and sea spray can leave ship hulls and decks coated in thick sheets of ice due to frigid temperatures and winds. Left untreated, some ships can risk capsizing from the topside weight.

The polar cod has a type of “antifreeze” protein in its blood that allows it to survive the Arctic’s frigid water temperatures without freezing. That protein has inspired the creation of a coating that can prevent ice buildup on ships.