Slashdot Mirror
Gecko-Inspired Dry Adhesive Set For Space
AndreV writes "Biomimetic adhesives aren't new, but a PhD graduate in British Columbia has developed a new method of creating microscopic, mushroom-like plastic structures in order to produce a dry adhesive that mimics the stickiness of gecko feet—and is prepping his glue-free innovation for outer space. A research group at his university, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, is engineering a spider-like, sticky-footed climbing robot destined to explore Mars, and it is also developing reusable attaching systems for astronauts to use where magnetic and suction systems generally fail. In the future, he says, single-use versions could be used in any number of medical applications as well as for replacements for everyday sticky needs, such as Post-It notes and Scotch tape."
We all know that Geico is secretly behind this.
If you RTFA you will see that this new adhesive is not based on the nano-scale properties of gecko feet, but is the first space adhesive that doubles as a delightful gecko-flavored paste in emergencies.
Magnetic stickers only work on refrigerators. Since it's colder on the outside of the space station, you can only use them on the inside.
Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
A spider monkey inspired car horn set for space? A webkit inspired grapling hook set for space? Oh, the joy of open source browsers.
What sort of medical applications make use of post-it notes? Maybe it will hold an incision closed, but that floppy tag of paper is just too much for most prople to ignore.
Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
So easy, a caveman could do it!
That's rubbish. Magnetic stickers don't work in space because there is no North or South pole to point to.
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
Ever since some years ago we read on /. that they had discovered the secret behind geckos' amazing abilities, I've been waiting for practical applications of this in the form of gecko tape and the soon-to-follow gecko shoes and gloves.
Glad to see that they'll be using it in space soon, guess that means it'll only be a matter of time before I can get it at Home Depot. In the meantime, whenever I want something stuck to the wall, I just tie it to a gecko and then let the gecko do the sticking for me. Tough part is keeping them in one place, but ironically a little traditional glue does the job nicely. The other problem is I can only put things out of the reach of my cat...
The enemies of Democracy are
This dry adhesive can't possibly be worse than the time I accidentally super-glued my hand to my penis. Don't ask ... just, don't ask. All I'll say is that the only thing worse would be super-glue eyedrops.
I'm just practicing for when my daughter gets old enough to start asking "why?" about everything.
I am SO going to screw her up for elementary school science classes.
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
Read the headline and thought, "By George! Mozilla is using the Gecko rendering engine in space now?!"
2/0=inf.
3/0=inf.
2/0=3/0
Multiply by zero:
2=3
If you can divide by zero, numbers make no sense. That's amazing you say, has somebody ever tried to divide by zero and did bad things happen as a result?
Yes, do you remember the banking crisis of 2008, that's when 1 tiny bank accidentally divided by zero. Through the internet this ofcourse rapidly spread and soon numbers made no sense. Because they made no sense, the virtual money indicator flipped to negative. That's why your house has lost 50% of its value.
The more you know.
Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
Next up, NASA is planning on trying to produce a way to mimic a gecko's ability to appeal to the American mass market sales channel to create actual funding for the space program.
Am I the only one who thought at first glance the Mozilla Foundation was behind all this?