Related topics: lizards

Copying geckos’ toes

Geckos are famous for their ability to walk up walls and scamper across ceilings. The dry-adhesive surface of geckos’ toes has inspired many attempts to copy this ability in an artificial material. Isabel Rodríguez ...

Scientists trace gecko footprint, find clue to glue

Geckos' ability to scamper up walls with ease has long inspired scientists who study the fine keratin hairs on these creatures' footpads, believed responsible for the adhesion. Researchers at The University of Akron have ...

Oldest pregnant lizard fossil discovered

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new paper published in Naturwissenschaft reveals a fossil from 120 million years ago that proves that some lizards were not laying eggs but rather giving birth to live young.

Invasive night geckos outcompete local day geckos

The nocturnal house gecko is an aggressive island invader with a bad reputation when it comes to interaction with the locals. House geckos have already contributed to the demise of many similar species active during the night.

Robot fish can trick the real thing

Scientists have long turned to nature for inspiration and innovation. From unlocking the secrets of spider silk to create super-strong materials to taking hints from geckos for new adhesives, clues from the natural world ...

Secrets of nanohair adhesion un-peeled by UA polymer scientists

Not long after Dr. Ali Dhinojwala, chairman of The University of Akron Department of Polymer Science, unpeeled the secret (fine, clingy hairs) behind the remarkable adhesion of gecko feet, he and fellow researchers came up ...

Humidity makes gecko feet stickier

Geckos have amazingly sticky feet. Their stickability comes from billions of dry microscopic hairs that coat the soles of their feet. However, when humidity increases, gecko feet stick even tighter to smooth surfaces, so ...

Secrets of the gecko foot help robot climb (w/ Video)

(PhysOrg.com) -- The science behind gecko toes holds the answer to a dry adhesive that provides an ideal grip for robot feet. Stanford mechanical engineer Mark Cutkosky is using the new material, based on the structure of ...

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