Becoming Spiderman

[ƒORM]

Scientists defy gravity with 'Spider-Man' gloves
Monday, June 2, 2003 Posted: 2:39 PM EDT (1839 GMT)

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Move over Spider-Man -- mere mortals may soon be coming to a ceiling near you.

Researchers at the University of Manchester say they have cracked the secret of one of the reptile world's greatest climbers, the gecko, and produced a sticky tape that can mimic the lizard's gravity-defying abilities.

Soon, people could walk on walls like comic-book superhero Spider-Man, the university said.

"The new adhesive -- gecko tape -- contains billions of tiny plastic fibres which are similar to natural hairs covering the soles of geckos' feet," the University said in a statement.

"The research team believes it won't be long before Spider-Man gloves become a reality."

Bob Full of Berkeley University in the U.S., who was also involved, said the technology could be used for handling computer chips and could have applications in medicine.

Plans are under way to produce larger pads and to improve the tape's durability, said the journal Nature Materials, which published the paper. But the University said cost was currently prohibitive.

"We have considered producing a large amount of gecko tape, sufficient amounts to enable a student to hang out of the window of a tall building," it said. "However it would cost too much money, and would not benefit us scientifically."

[watscum]

i can't even imagine the number of voyeuristic applications...

[TANTRIC]

LOL.. buddy where do you find all these cool things?! haha..

[Goat]

why do i see a future of nerdy kids running around dressed up as spiderman fulfilling weird sexual fantasies?
*shudders*

coo invention though. just shows ya what happens when people have too much time on their hands :kam:

[watscum]

Originally posted by Goat
coo invention though. just shows ya what happens when people have too much time on their hands :kam:

buddy, wtf?!

did you not see that the technology is being developed at one of the world's leading academic institutions? it's not as though these scientists have " too much time on their hands"- they're highly skilled professionals working arduously in white labcoats day after day!

[Goat]

too sketch to argue bout this. i stand by my original post.
too much time :soak:

[watscum]

i suppose its just a tad too much to comprehend at the denominator..

:)

[Jingles]

I love how geckos stick to the side of aquariums at the pet store - it's so cute

I like how they mmentioned sticking a student to the side of a building, not one of the scientists...seems the double sided tape isn't that good :)