Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Secrets of the gecko foot help robot climb

A Stanford mechanical engineer created a robot that can climb smooth surfaces like glass using the sticky property of a gecko's foot. The robot uses a material with tiny hairs to create directional adhesion, allowing it to stick and unstick from surfaces easily.

SourceStanford University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 26, 2010

Glue, fly, glue

Researchers discovered that caddisfly larvae's underwater silk adhesive is sticky and has potential to be used as a medical bioadhesive in surgery. The silk, known as 'rock rollers,' may be useful for sticking wet tissues together, similar to using a wet Band-Aid.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalBiomacromolecules·DateFeb 28, 2010

Sucker-footed bats don't use suction after all

Researchers discovered that sucker-footed bats of Madagascar use wet adhesion to attach themselves to surfaces, ruling out suction as the primary method. The finding helps scientists understand how these small creatures live in the wild and sheds light on the evolutionary relationship between two similar bat species.

SourceBrown University·JournalBiological Journal of the Linnean Society·DateDec 14, 2009

Shellfish and inkjet printers may hold key to faster healing from surgeries

Researchers have developed new medical adhesives using marine mussel glue and inkjet technology that are non-toxic, biodegradable and precise, promising improved wound repair and reduced scarring in surgeries. The adhesives could replace traditional sutures, reducing complications and improving patient outcomes.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B Applied Biomaterials·DateMar 18, 2009

Gaps in adhesion

Scientists have reproduced the protein responsible for mussel adhesion in a synthetic material, showing that adhesion is independent of link number. The findings could lead to manufacturing polymers with binding sites for different materials.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 17, 2008

Nothing stops an expert in the art of living

Researchers Dagmar Voigt and Stanislav Gorb from the Max-Planck Institute for Metals Research discovered that mirid bugs' non-stick surface disrupts the adhesive properties of Roridula gorgonias' glue. The team found that the mirid bug's greasy coating prevents the glue from adhering to its surface, allowing it to evade capture.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateAug 14, 2008

Team explains 'the wallpaper problem'

A team of researchers from MIT and CNRS studied the phenomenon of triangular tears in adhesives like tape and plastic sheets. They found that these tears arise from interactions between three properties: elasticity, adhesive energy, and fracture energy. The study has potential industrial applications in microtechnologies.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 30, 2008

Sticky questions tackled in gecko research

A University of Calgary biologist has made a groundbreaking discovery about geckos' ability to stick to surfaces using their unique toe pads. By studying the microscopic level of setae structures on gecko feet, researchers found that friction plays a crucial role in geckos' adhesion system.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalCanadian Journal of Zoology·DateDec 20, 2007

How adhesive protein causes malaria

The study identified specific parts of PfEMP1 that are likely to bond more strongly with receptors in blood vessels, producing a stronger adhesive effect. These protein parts are common in parasites causing severe malaria, and their identification could lead to the development of a vaccine to prevent the disease.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2007

Beetle feet stick to their promises

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Metals Research develop adhesive material mimicking beetle feet's microhairs for improved adhesion. The material exhibits excellent performance, lasting hundreds of applications and showing benefits such as no visible marks or need for cleaning.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateNov 3, 2006

Floating and spiky

Researchers use computer simulations to study the effect of adhesive patch size and density on cell adhesion. They found that protrusion height is the most critical factor, with small increases leading to faster adhesion rates.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 3, 2006

Anti-adhesive layers leave no hope for insects

Researchers from Max Planck Institute for Metals Research and University of Hohenheim investigate the effect of two-layered crystalline wax on insect attachment. The upper layer contaminates insects' feet, while the lower layer reduces contact area between feet and substrate, resulting in slippery zone that traps insects.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateJan 13, 2006

Hairy feet stick better to wet ceilings

Geckos' hairy feet exhibit an extreme adhesive ability due to a 'dry' system that uses water. The researchers found that increased air humidity strengthens the capillary forces between spatulae and substrates, enabling geckos to stick better on wet ceilings.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 9, 2005

Beetle-inspired switch uses water for bonding

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a beetle-inspired switch that uses surface tension to create bonds, opening up possibilities for powerful adhesive bonding in arrays. The switch can be scaled down to the size of a micron and operates using water and electricity.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 22, 2005

Measurement clarifies role between protein structure and cell adhesion

A team of researchers has developed a new technique to directly measure protein binding forces, clarifying the role of membrane-anchored protein NCAM in cell adhesion. Their study reveals that NCAM forms two adhesive configurations, which are validated by experimental results and contribute to spatially distinct bonds.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 26, 2004

Watching social behaviour evolve

Myxococcus xanthus bacteria evolved the ability to swarm socially on soft agar without filamentous appendages (pili), relying on an enhanced adhesive matrix composed of fibrils. This cooperative behavior depends on individual cells contributing to a public commons, enabling efficient swarming and cooperation.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateSep 5, 2003

Scientists prove how geckos stick, unlock secrets to making artificial gecko glue

A team of biologists and engineers has discovered that the gecko's adhesive power depends on weak van der Waals forces and geometry, not surface chemistry. They fabricated prototype synthetic foot-hair tips that stick like real geckos' feet, opening doors to manufacturing biologically inspired adhesives with widespread applications.

SourceLewis & Clark College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 26, 2002