Scientists Echo the Gecko Feet

The gecko feet have gripped scientists - and countless surfaces with ease - for a long time and is one of the animals scientists are trying to mimic. I hope you like lizards!

A gecko's foot and a sheet of Geckskin

The invention in mind is the Geckskin. Named as one of the top scientific breakthroughs of 2012 by CNN Money, it is a truly gripping piece of biomimetic innovation. (Biomimetic, biomimicry or bionics means mimicking nature to design and engineer new man-made materials. Put another way, Geckskin is a biologically inspired design.)

From left: Al Crosby, Dan King, Michael Bartlett and Duncan Irschick
Background: Geckskin

The team behind this innovation is from the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst. The team comprises Al Crosby, Dan King, Michael Bratlett and Duncan Irschick. The interdisciplinary team was not the first of scientists to develop adhesives from mimicking gecko footpads. What makes Geckskin different from other innovations is that it tries to mimic a different structure under the gecko feet, particularly the tendons. As explained by UMass researcher Al Crosby, the tendons are directly connected to the skin and hairs (called setae) on the gecko's footpad. The product is a sheet of adhesiv covered in these structures.

The Geckskin successfully emulates the gecko's feet. A sheet of gecksking the size of an idex card can hold up to 700 pounds and can be removed with minimal effort. What makes it even more practicable is that it is reusable and does not leave any residue behind when peeled off. I especially like the last listed feature, because I find adhesives such as cellophane tape a pain sometimes.

The reason why it was listed as the top 5 breakthroughs by CNN Money is because it is seen as extremely marketable. The research was also partially endorsed by US Defense Research Projestcs Agency. So there is a lot of potential for the Geckskin in application in all sorts of areas.

I'm guessing that the Geckskin might be used in outer space where super strong adhesives are needed to hold parts together - you wouldn't want vital pieces of equipment floating aimlessly around in space. Also, maybe in heavy industries and movie productions. It would definitely aide Tom Cruise's character in Mission Impossible, Ethan Hunt, on missions where climbing buildings is involved. Households consumers like us might even find use in this. We might need smaller versions that can be used to hold TVs up, maybe even to stick vases to the table - especially in households with hyperactive children running around. The additional helpful feature is that it won't leave a mark on your expensive crystal-ware.

Anybody up for making a Gecko-man? He could become Spiderman's buddy.

Cheers
zhusun

Further reading:
http://www.umass.edu/umhome/feature/little-lizard-could
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57401164-1/the-holy-grail-of-adhesives/
http://www.umass.edu/loop/content/cnn-money-names-geckskin-top-science-breakthrough-2012
http://www.cns.umass.edu/about/newsletter/may-2012/inspired-by-gecko-feet-scientists-invent-super-adhesive-material
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216165500.htm