4. Geckos’ Feet and Advanced Adhesives
Geckos effortlessly climb smooth walls, thanks to millions of microscopic hairs on their feet, which exploit van der Waals forces. While sticky tapes and glues existed, none matched the dry, residue-free grip of gecko toes. Their design now inspires high-tech adhesives in robotics and manufacturing. For a detailed study on how geckos achieve their remarkable adhesion, refer to the article “Evidence for van der Waals adhesion in gecko setae” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)