Gecko tech to create future super-adhesives  Nanotechnology
isn't just for researchers and scientists… no, it's also
something that geckos came up with long before we got our brains
wrapped around the idea. I'm no scientist, so we'll let an
actual doctor take it from here:  "Each gecko foot has millions
of microscopic hairs (called setae) each with a microscopic
mushroom shaped cap on the end, less than one-thousandth of a
millimeter across called a spatula… The cumulative attractive
force, called van der Waals force between hair, mushroom, and
surface sticks the little guy down. There are almost 500,000
Setae on each foot, and each of these tipped with between 100
and 1,000 spatulae. If a gecko stuck every single little sticker
to a surface at one time it could hold up a 250 lb man."
Scientists are working to create a "synthetic gecko" so they can
get the same amazing adhesive qualities that the little lizards
enjoy via nature. The technology could be used for things like
super-adhesive bandages that will s