Evolution
Geckos
have been the subject of fascinating research for years due to their
amazing ability to cling to walls. It has long been understood that they
use special hairs on the underside of their toe pads to grip surfaces
with incredible strength but recently scientists have begun to unearth
the vital role that air plays in sticking the lizards to the slipperiest
of surfaces.
Geckos are found in the
tropics where rain and humidity often make gripping surfaces a perilous
task. However, this task is one that gecko’s rise to magnificently with
the help of Van der Waals forces. As long as their feet are dry the
lizards are able to stick to damp surfaces as air trapped between tiny
hairs performs as a suction cup like adhesive ‘gluing’ them to damp
walls and plant matter.
Some beetles also have a similar method
of gripping in wet weather but instead of Van der Waals forces they use
capillary action (the attraction of liquids to solids). The beetles
have tiny hairs covered in an oily liquid to form strong bonds to any
solid surfaces they walk across. This mechanism even works when
completely submerged in water thanks to the superhydrophobic barrier of
air trapped between the hairs, just like the gecko’s toe pads.
These discoveries have led to exciting predictions in the development of
underwater adhesives including reusable waterproof ‘gecko tape’ and
bonding agents that would allow environmentally friendly robotics to
monitor underwater habitats. JB
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
Geckos
have been the subject of fascinating research for years due to their
amazing ability to cling to walls. It has long been understood that they
use special hairs on the underside of their toe pads to grip surfaces
with incredible strength but recently scientists have begun to unearth
the vital role that air plays in sticking the lizards to the slipperiest
of surfaces.
Geckos are found in the
Geckos are found in the
tropics where rain and humidity often make gripping surfaces a perilous
task. However, this task is one that gecko’s rise to magnificently with
the help of Van der Waals forces. As long as their feet are dry the
lizards are able to stick to damp surfaces as air trapped between tiny
hairs performs as a suction cup like adhesive ‘gluing’ them to damp
walls and plant matter.
Some beetles also have a similar method of gripping in wet weather but instead of Van der Waals forces they use capillary action (the attraction of liquids to solids). The beetles have tiny hairs covered in an oily liquid to form strong bonds to any solid surfaces they walk across. This mechanism even works when completely submerged in water thanks to the superhydrophobic barrier of air trapped between the hairs, just like the gecko’s toe pads.
These discoveries have led to exciting predictions in the development of underwater adhesives including reusable waterproof ‘gecko tape’ and bonding agents that would allow environmentally friendly robotics to monitor underwater habitats. JB
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
Some beetles also have a similar method of gripping in wet weather but instead of Van der Waals forces they use capillary action (the attraction of liquids to solids). The beetles have tiny hairs covered in an oily liquid to form strong bonds to any solid surfaces they walk across. This mechanism even works when completely submerged in water thanks to the superhydrophobic barrier of air trapped between the hairs, just like the gecko’s toe pads.
These discoveries have led to exciting predictions in the development of underwater adhesives including reusable waterproof ‘gecko tape’ and bonding agents that would allow environmentally friendly robotics to monitor underwater habitats. JB
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
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