Scientists unravel mystery of geckos' sticky feet

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Monday, July 07, 2003 | Byron Spice

[Willie Green]

The gecko has been perfecting its amazing wall-crawling abilities for something like 100 million years. But scientists, with feet still planted firmly on the ground, are rapidly playing catch up.

Only last year did researchers finally figure out what makes the gecko's microscopic foot hairs so sticky that the little tropical lizard can run upside down across ceilings. Yet they are already reporting some success at producing synthetic versions.

[ElkGroveDan]

Teflon is about the only thing to which geckos won't stick.

Actually that's not true. If you don't use enough butter or cooking oil, it's really hard to get the spatula under them, even on a teflon pan.

[expatpat]

Clothing with pockets or ornamentation that can be removed or repositioned

Like Velcro?

Actually, I think it's quite interesting, despite my smarta$$ remark.

[Aric2000]

PING!!!

Wallcrawling anyone?

[Prof Engineer]

Actually that's not true. If you don't use enough butter or cooking oil, it's really hard to get the spatula under them, even on a teflon pan.

LOL. Yum, gecko.

[Prof Engineer]

Do you think Spider Boy might be interested?

[coloradan]

Yum, fried gecko.

[1rudeboy]

I once owned a Tokay gecko. It could climb a pane of glass.

[Bahbah]

LOL. I had to read that twice.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Scientists unravel mystery of geckos' sticky feet"

I heard the new theory was something like: all the different species of geckos are born on the floor near the front row of of a movie theater!

[joesnuffy]

Id like to see if it could make
Hitlery stick to one side of an issue

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[msdrby]

Spider Boy having gecko action wall crawling abilities? Yeah! I am sure he would be fascinated with a gecko! So would Chelsea and Ben... lunch. (:^)

[quark]

"...geckos are able to stick to surfaces because they can exploit weak molecular attractive forces..."

In a related story, scientists have determined that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is able to stick to American politics by exploiting weak-minded Democrat voters.

[capt. norm]

The local gecko lizards have my undying respect. Their favorite food seems to be cockroaches. It's considered lucky to find geckos hiding in your garage or outbuildings.

Unless you happen to uncover one during the day, you generally see them at night and they come in wierd colors.

[r9etb]

The local gecko lizards have my undying respect. Their favorite food seems to be cockroaches. It's considered lucky to find geckos hiding in your garage or outbuildings.

We had some geckos in our house in Houston, and they did indeed seem to help control the roach population.

[gcruse]

Veni Vidi Velcro

I came, I saw, I struck around.