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Stick to Walls Like Spiderman

Gecko Tape

— February 5, 2008 — Unique
I know it's not just me that's thought how awesome it would be to scale the walls Spiderman style, which is why I thought this Gecko Tape would be appreciated by others than myself.

Scientists at UC Berkeley and Lewis and Clark College created a new material capable of keeping things stuck on walls in an invention which I imagine could be likened to an advanced form of Velcro. A 2cm square can hold a pound of weight, so the possibilities are really quite spectacular. Unlike other adhesives like tape which dull with use, the Gecko Tape works better each time.

"A new material relies on millions of tiny plastic fibers that can grip solids as the fabric slides across them, then quickly release those objects when pulled away vertically," Gizmodo explains.

They haven't found a way for you to attach it to yourself (yet) but the tape has been proven to work well to keep objects like art on walls or bandaging wounded limbs.

"The gecko has a very sophisticated hierarchical structure of compliant toes, microfibers, nanofibers and nanoattachment plates that allows the foot to attach and release with very little effort," said Berkeley prof Ron Fearing of his inspiration. "The gecko makes it look simple, but the animal needs to control the directions it is moving its toes—correct movement equates to little effort."
Trend Themes
1. Gecko Tape - Opportunity for creating advanced adhesive materials that can hold objects on walls with increasing effectiveness over time.
2. Advanced Adhesives - Opportunity to develop new adhesive technologies that can securely attach objects to various surfaces.
3. Bio-inspired Materials - Opportunity to explore materials inspired by natural phenomena, such as gecko feet, for innovative applications.
Industry Implications
1. Construction - Potential for using gecko tape or similar materials in construction industry for temporary or flexible attachment of materials.
2. Medical - Opportunity to use gecko tape for securely attaching medical devices or bandages to patients' bodies without causing discomfort or skin irritation.
3. Art and Design - Potential for artists and designers to use gecko tape to mount artwork on walls without damaging the surface or frame.
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