Ever wondered how a gecko stays attached to a vertical surface? Well, researchers over at the University of California, Berkley, wondered that too. And, of course, they figured it out. The gecko’s padded feet attach to the surface and the gecko’s feet slide along the surface — and then once they lift their feet, it easily detaches.
So, why would I tell you this? Because, these same researchers developed a similar adhesive that could prove useful for a range of products, from climbing equipment to medical devices.
The new material is made of millions of tiny, hard, plastic fibers that establish a grip. The tape sticks when it presses onto a surface, and then new adhesive sticks as it slides along the surface. Like the gecko, the material releases as it lifts.
Another feature is that only two square centimeters of the adhesive can support a pound of weight — which means an actual strip of tape could hold much more (that was the researchers’ idea, not the gecko’s).
During testing, they found the tape also became stronger with each use, tightening its hold as it was repeatedly rubbed against a glass plate. Lynn Preston, who helped develop the adhesive, stated, “This is a perfect example of how to turn that understanding into products that are as sophisticated as those developed by ‘Mother Nature’.”
