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Geckos, nanotechnology, climbing gear...


johndavidjr

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An apparently proven fact about gecko feet was mentioned in recent story regarding nanotechnology in The Economist magazine. NYTimes this week has following three sentences:

 

"A gecko's foot contains millions of minuscule hairs, or

setae, with tiny pads at their tips. Because they are only

200-billionths of a meter wide, the tips get close enough

to any surface to be pulled by the surface's weak molecular

forces. The combined strength of all the setae on a single

gecko, Dr. Autumn found, is enough to lift an offensive

lineman, about 280 pounds."

 

Possible implications for climbing shoes, and gloves, can be guessed...Wouldn't this be cheating?

 

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By George! You're right... I checked, and they've already synthesized the stuff... You know, I've been stuck in traffic on the Long Island Expressway for the past eighteen months and haven't been able to keep up with anything but Rush Limbaugh and "Traffic & Weather Together" on the radio.

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