A novel textile relies on millions of tiny plastic fibers that can grip solids as the fabric slide across them , then quickly release those objects when pulled away vertically . The engineering is based on the flesh of a spider ’s gecko ’s foot , and may be used for things like pay heed art on a rampart , or twine a broken leg on a battlefield . Screw that stuff : I ’d care to use it to build a Spider - Man climbing suit .
concord to the scientist at UC Berkeley and Lewis and Clark College in Oregon , a 2 - atomic number 96 square of the stuff can arrest nearly a pound . Off the bat , that may not be enough to hold me on a gusty day 32 story up the side of the Empire State Building , but it ’s a skilful beginning . Put a whole suit of the fabric on a guy as limber as , say , Andy Serkis , and you never know .
Another cool property is that — like certain x - girlfriends — the hooey have clingier the longer you utilize it . As it was rubbed against a Methedrine collection plate , it convey stronger , because of the way the fibre bend into form . I ’m not even for sure many gecko can get a solid bag on ice . Of course , I do n’t want Berkeley professor Ron Fearing to hear me sing slap about his beloved lizard . Here ’s how he rhapsodizes the inspiration for his innovation :
“ The gecko has a very advanced hierarchical structure of compliant toe , microfibers , nanofibers and nanoattachment denture that allow the foot to attach and release with very little effort . The gecko ca-ca it look childlike , but the animate being needs to control the directions it is go its toe — correct movement equate to little movement . ”
Bottom line : If I ’m ever last to get my fully usable Spider - Man wooing , I ’m belike gon na have to see a man name Fearing about it . [ Medgadget ]
BerkeleySpider - ManSpiderman
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