Posted on 04/11/2018 8:34:46 AM PDT by molewhacka
A team of California researchers has developed a robotic gripper that combines the adhesive properties of gecko toes and the adaptability of air-powered soft robots to grasp a much wider variety of objects than the state of the art...
The gecko is one of nature's best climbers, thanks to millions of microscopic hairs, with features about 20 to 30 times smaller than a human hair, that allow it to climb on virtually any surface. The hairs end in tiny nanostructures that interact at the atomic level with molecules on the surface the gecko is trying to grip...
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
The last thing I read about this is that they were trying to find a way to keep them clean.
Geckos are no match for my cats.
I like the idea.
When I was a kid I lived in the Philippines, and they had abundant populations of lizards, including geckos that had disposable tails, smallish garishly colored bodies, and huge heads with tiny needle-like teeth. I recall them being up to a foot long with the tail.
I would hear them at night...”EEEEH OHHH...(long pause)...EEEEEH OHHHHH!”
Whenever I saw one of these, I would attempt to capture it. They were terrifically interesting, but quite dangerous looking with that big head and mouth.
I would attempt to knock them from the overhead then grab them by the neck right behind the head. A broom worked to knock them to the ground, but I recall they easily would avoid a stick.
While holding them by the neck (with that big mouth wide open threateningly) I would put other bugs into its mouth to see what would happen when it clamped down. I would place its body on a window or a jar to see if it could latch on and support lifting the jar from the ground with those cool feet (it could)
One day at school, during shop class, I saw one on the overhead just outside Mr. Stauffer’s class. I grabbed a broom and swiped at it while I stood directly underneath it...it fell...and landed on my face.
In terror and panic, I shook my head violently, throwing my black plastic BCD glasses (Birth Control Device) about five yards away.
When they landed, the gecko was firmly attached to the glasses!
Scale them up, like snowshoes for the hands and feet, manufacture in China.
Could be a big seller, south of the border, down Mexico way
I suspect that keeping them clean is, perhaps, less challenging to commercialization than some of the other remaining obstacles. Also, initial applications will likely be in clean room environments or space.
Did the gecko get to keep the glasses?
I think Geckos manage to keep them clean, walking over filthy surfaces without picking anything up.
I never thought of it, but I’ll bet talcum powder would have defeated their stickability!
LOL...no! He was stunned, I think and I grabbed him by the neck behind his head...and I took my glasses...:)
Yep, and all of this miraculous stuff just “evolved”....in every cell in every creature. All sprang from nothing. The scientific theory of life springing from non-live and “evolving” into different species is a holdover from a time when scientists thought that maggots spontaneously grew from rotten meat. Quaint, but wrong. When Darwin constructed his theory there weren’t the tools to see just how incredibly complex just a single cell is and many are still in denial about these micro machines.
I simply do not have the gargantuan amount of faith required to suspend rational thought and accept evolution. The statistical improbability of even the most simple organism successfully evolving is so staggering it defies belief.
My daughter is in love with her Gecko we keep Roger’s cage protected because we have two cats. I also find crickets all over the house.
I'm with you.
But why can't intelligent design and evolution both be true?
I don't understand why the discussion is always placed in the context of a "choice."
One thing's for sure: no one actually knows, no matter how strong their belief or how clever their arguments.
I used to super-glue thread to the backs of flies and then take them for a walk around the neighborhood.
DNA contains the ‘instructions’ for every possible ‘option’ a cell may need (to be).
Cells cannot ‘evolve’ into anything or be created to ‘be’ any type of cell that the DNA doesn’t have instructions for to begin with.
DNA ‘instructions’ can be damaged, causing a mutation, but the mutation is not favorable to the ‘host’.
Thus, we are left with the question: Where did the original ‘instructions’ come from ?
Excellent point.
Yeah, evolution seems to be a visible demonstration of god’s plan. There’s some kind of heresy required to assume one knows better than god and therefore can deny the visible evidence of gods creations. Strangely similar to that Aristotlean fallacy that pure reason is sufficient to understand nature.
Absolutely. It takes a willful blindness to evidence.
(Rom 1:20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
(Rom 1:21) because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.