2010 -- Here Comes Gecko-Man
It looks like Peter Parker imitators should be studying gecko lizards, not spiders.
In this month's issue of Nature Materials, a team of scientists reports that it has prodcued a dry, glueless adhesive that would allow humans to scurry across the living-room ceiling - supported solely by the feeble molecular attractions that occur every time two objects touch.Dr. Geim...envisions robots that can go anywhere on their gecko-like feet; bandages that won't hurt to remove; and a more efficient way to handle computer chips in vacuum environments, where sticky residues can't be used.
Do not look for this anytime soon, the current experiments are both expensive and flimsy. However, do not be surprised if you are walking down the street in the year 2010 and see a man crawling up a building.
Send this Post