How friction evolves during an earthquake

By simulating earthquakes in a lab, engineers at Caltech have documented the evolution of friction during an earthquake—measuring what could once only be inferred, and shedding light on one of the biggest unknowns in earthquake ...

Laser-cooled ions contribute to better understanding of friction

In physics, it is useful to know as precisely as possible how friction phenomena arise—and not only on the macroscopic scale, as in mechanical engineering, but also on the microscopic scale, in areas such as biology and ...

Synthetic two-sided gecko's foot could enable underwater robotics

Geckos are well known for effortlessly scrambling up walls and upside down across ceilings. Even in slippery rain forests, the lizards maintain their grip. Now scientists have created a double-sided adhesive that copies this ...

Friction shapes zebrafish embryos

A simple ball of cells is the starting point for humans—and zebrafish. At the end of embryonic development, however, a fish and a human look very different. The biochemical signals at play have been studied extensively. ...

Bio-inspired tire design: Where the rubber meets the road

The fascination with the ability of geckos to scamper up smooth walls and hang upside down from improbable surfaces has entranced scientists at least as far back as Aristotle, who noted the reptile's remarkable feats in his ...

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