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Article: CMU professor's super adhesive inspired by the gecko
- Article from:
- Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Article date:
- September 12, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Prior to becoming the British-accented spokesman for Geico
insurance and dancing mascot for SoBe beverages, the gecko was an
ordinary creature, found locally in Western Pennsylvania zoos and
pet stores.
Scientists for years have been fascinated with the animal, not
because of its accent or dance-floor moves, but because of its toes.
The billions of hairs on the gecko's toes give the animal the
gravity-defying ability to climb the smoothest of surfaces, vertical
or horizontal, and to be able to hang by even a single toe, if
needed.
Carnegie Mellon University Associate Professor of Mechanical
Engineering Metin Sitti is an authority on what he calls the gecko's
"one-sided Velcro" adhesive ...