DailyDirt: Bio-Inspired Superglue

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

When you need some good ideas for solving a problem, sometimes nature already has an answer. For example, the original idea for what became Velcro, the hook-and-loop fastener, was inspired by the burrs of the burdock plant which tend to stick easily to fur and clothing. Here are a few other examples of some very sticky adhesives that were inspired by nature. By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.
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Filed Under: adhesives, biology, geckskin, proteins, superglues, velcro


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  1. identicon
    Pixelation, 26 Mar 2012 @ 10:34pm

    Microwaves

    "To attach itself to human cells, the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterium uses thin hairs made up of a protein with a 3D structure stabilized by a very strong intramolecular isopeptide bond that can survive boiling in detergent and strong acids."

    Just when I was thinking we could boil people in detergent and strong acids to remove those pesky bacterium. Damn!

    Hmmm, maybe powerful microwaves...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Pixelation, 26 Mar 2012 @ 10:36pm

    "The Geckskin is only about the size of an index card, but it can support a maximum weight of about 700 pounds. It can hold a 42-inch flat screen TV to a wall"

    Fraternity hazing is about to get interesting.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Pixelation, 26 Mar 2012 @ 10:38pm

    "Mussels, barnacles, and tubeworms are providing the inspiration for future medical adhesives."

    Already been done. Pirates of the Caribbean.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. icon
    Michael Ho (profile), 27 Mar 2012 @ 3:11am

    Re:

    David Letterman has done a few full-body velcro stunts... and there are a bunch of people working on "geckoman" stuff so that people can climb walls like spiderman.
    http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/02/pentagon-researchers-create-spider-man-gadgetry- for-real-life-wall-crawlers/

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Pixelation, 27 Mar 2012 @ 8:38am

    Re: Re:

    I watched the Letterman Velcro stunts. Pretty funny.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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