7th August 2006, 11:42 AM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/...30,00.html
So scientists have recreated the natural adhesion of geckos. Unlike insects, which can use suction cups and hooks to do the job, larger creatures have the issue of scale (since volume increases faster than area when you pump up the size of something, and density being constant, that means that a 10X fly is bearing more weight relative to it's size on those feet than a normal fly). As the article says, geckos instead use properties of the electron shields to "bond" with anything they walk on.
These will make mountain climbing a lot easier, or robbing a skyrise apartment complex, you know whatever.
Quote:Experts at defence firm BAE Systems have been working on developing a new super-adherent material they say acts like "molecular Velcro". The textile, which they have labelled Synthetic Gecko, does not use glue or pressure to stick to walls but recreates the natural adhesion of the lizard which gives it its name.
So scientists have recreated the natural adhesion of geckos. Unlike insects, which can use suction cups and hooks to do the job, larger creatures have the issue of scale (since volume increases faster than area when you pump up the size of something, and density being constant, that means that a 10X fly is bearing more weight relative to it's size on those feet than a normal fly). As the article says, geckos instead use properties of the electron shields to "bond" with anything they walk on.
These will make mountain climbing a lot easier, or robbing a skyrise apartment complex, you know whatever.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)