Biologically inspired adhesive tape can be reused thousands of times

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xmlns:fb="http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml" xmlns:og="http://opengraphprotocol.org/schema/" dir="ltr"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.gizmag.com/bioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel/20406/","20120524180805","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1337882885"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Biologically inspired adhesive tape can be reused thousands of times</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <meta name="description" content="With inspiration from nature, researchers have created a new dry adhesive tape that is not only boasts impressive adhesive strength, but can also ..."/> <meta name="keywords" content="Adhesive,Biomimicry,Gecko,Insect,University of Kiel,Research Watch"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/bioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel/20406/"/> <link rel="image_src" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/bioinspired_tape.jpg"/> <meta name="title" content="Biologically inspired adhesive tape can be reused thousands of times"/> <link rel="alternate" media="handheld" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://m.gizmag.com/article/20406"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805cs_/http://files.gizmag.com/static_styles.css?x=1337844528"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20120524180805cs_/http://www.gizmag.com/css/dynamic_styles.php?x=1337844528"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://gizmag.com/xml/" title="Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20120524180805im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/favicon.ico"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/web/20120524180805im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/apple-touch-icon.png"/>   <script type="text/javascript"> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement("script"); gads.async = true; gads.type = "text/javascript"; var useSSL = "https:" == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? "https:" : "http:") + "//web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"; var node =document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { gpt_leaderboard = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/ResearchWatch_Leaderboard_Top_728x90', [728,90], 'leaderboard') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_islandtr = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/ResearchWatch_IslandTop_Right_300x250', [300,250], 'island_top_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_islandbr = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/ResearchWatch_IslandBottom_Right_300x250', [300,250], 'island_bottom_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_billboard = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/Billboard', [970,250], 'billboard') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_skyscraper = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/ResearchWatch_Skyscraper_Right_160x600', [160,600], 'skyscraper_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_bottom_inc = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/bottom_include', [1,1], 'bottom_include') .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/global_public.js?1337882886"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/jquery/jquery-1.7.1.min.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/articles_public.js?x=1337675920"></script>    <link href="https://plus.google.com/105149739082983197804" rel="publisher"/> <script type="text/javascript"> window.___gcfg = {lang: 'en'}; (function() {var po = document.createElement("script"); po.type = "text/javascript"; po.async = true;po.src = "https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); </script> </head> <body> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/login_comments.js"></script>  <div id="fb-root"></div> <script> window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId: '38456013908', status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true, oauth: true, channelUrl: window.location.protocol + '//web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/fb_channel.php' //channel file to avoid cross domain communication issues }); FB.Event.subscribe('auth.logout', function(response) { if(response.authResponse===null){ //user is logging out of facebook logoutUser(); } }); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + '//web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js'; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); }()); var $jqr = jQuery.noConflict(); $jqr(document).ready(function() { var fbuser = checkFBUser(); }); </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[ var mobile = (/iphone|ipod|android|blackberry|mini|windows\sce|palm/i.test(navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase())); if (mobile) { var mob_link = "<div id='mob_redirect'><a href='https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://m.gizmag.com/article/20406/'>Read this article on our mobile site</a></div> "; $jqr('body').prepend(mob_link); } // ]]></script>  <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2235360-4']); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 1, 'Section','Research Watch',3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 2, 'Writer', 'Darren Quick', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 4, 'PPV_test3', '1', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 5, 'MonthPublished', '1320130800', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 3, 'View', 'Article', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageLoadTime']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/https://ssl' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(ga); })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/ga_social_tracking_min.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">_qacct="p-23Y-rtuj52xr6";quantserve();</script> <noscript><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-23Y-rtuj52xr6.gif" style="display: none" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/></noscript>   <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script>  <div class="index" id="top_index"> <div class="index_center"> <ul class="header_links float_left"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.youtube.com/user/gizmag" title="Gizmag's YouTube Channel"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/youtube_icon.png" alt="YouTube logo"/>Gizmag's YouTube Channel</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.twitter.com/gizmag/" title="Follow Gizmag on Twitter"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/twitter-icon.png" alt="Twitter bird"/>Follow Gizmag on Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/stumble/stumblethru:gizmag.com?utm_source=GizMag&utm_medium=StumbleThru&utm_campaign=StumbleThruButton " title="Explore Gizmag" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/StumbleUpon-logo.png" alt="Stumble Thru"/>Explore Gizmag</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/xml/" title="Subscribe to Gizmag's RSS feed"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/rss_icon_glass.png" alt="RSS logo"/>Subscribe</a></li> </ul>  <div id="search_form_top"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/search/" id="cse-search-box-top"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-1607124478120364:cf1bgg5f284"/> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11"/> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"/> <input type="text" name="q" size="28"/> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search"/> </div> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.google.com/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box-top&lang=en"></script> </div> </div> </div> <a name="top"></a>  <div id="top_strip" class="snap_noshots"><center><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/beijing-motor-show-2012/" target="_blank">Highlights from the 2012 Beijing Motor Show</a></center></div> <div class="center"> <div id="header"> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/" id="logo"></a> <div align="right" class="snap_noshots" id="leaderboard"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("leaderboard"); }); </script> </div> </div>  <div id="top_stories"> <ul id="img"> <li id="top_story0"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/leap-motion-gesture-control-sensor/22644/" title="Leap Motion sensor offers 3D gesture control at an affordable price"></a></li> <li id="top_story1"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/siemens-ehighway-of-the-future-concept/22648/" title="Siemens tests " ehighway of the future" vision with tram-like overhead cables"></a></li> <li id="top_story2"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/duacti-diavel-review-road-test-2012/22646/" title="Video road test: 2012 Ducati Diavel"></a></li> <li id="top_story3"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/microsof-socl/22645/" title="Microsoft launches So.cl social network"></a></li> <li id="top_story4"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/hybrid-blue-racecar/22640/" title="Students build an award-winning hybrid racecar"></a></li> </ul> <ul id="titles"> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/leap-motion-gesture-control-sensor/22644/">Leap Motion sensor offers 3D gesture control at an affordable price</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/siemens-ehighway-of-the-future-concept/22648/">Siemens tests "eHighway of the Future" vision with tram-like overhead cables</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/duacti-diavel-review-road-test-2012/22646/">Video road test: 2012 Ducati Diavel</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/microsof-socl/22645/">Microsoft launches So.cl social network</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/hybrid-blue-racecar/22640/">Students build an award-winning hybrid racecar</a></li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> <a id="more" class="orange" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/top_stories/">MORE TOP STORIES » </a> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="billboard">  </div> <div id="content" class="narrow_content" data-article="20406"> <div id="article_top" class="summary_details">  <div class="sd_top"> <script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[ var mobile = (/iphone|ipad|ipod|android|blackberry|mini|windows\sce|palm/i.test(navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase())); if (mobile) { var mob_link = "<img src='https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/cellphone.png'/><a id='article_mobile_link' class='small' href='https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://m.gizmag.com/article/20406'>View on mobile site</a>"; $jqr('.sd_top').append(mob_link); } // ]]></script> <a class="small" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/researchwatch/" style="float: left; ">RESEARCH WATCH</a> </div> <h2>Biologically inspired adhesive tape can be reused thousands of times</h2> <div class="summary_details_left"> <p>By <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/author/darren-quick/" rel="author">Darren Quick</a></p> <p><em>20:32 November 6, 2011</em></p> </div> <div class="summary_details_right"> <p><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comments.png" alt=""/> <a href="#comments">12 Comments</a> </p> <p></p> </div> </div> <div id="article_share_rail"> <div class="as_button"><fb:like href="http://www.gizmag.com/bioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel/20406/" send="false" show_faces="false" font="" layout="box_count" id="facebook_like"></fb:like><script type="text/javascript">_ga.trackFacebook();</script></div> <div class="as_button"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="gizmag">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> twttr.events.bind('tweet', function(event) { if (event) { var targetUrl; if (event.target && event.target.nodeName == 'IFRAME') { targetUrl = extractParamFromUri(event.target.src, 'url'); } _gaq.push(['_trackSocial', 'twitter', 'tweet', targetUrl]); } }); twttr.events.bind('retweet', function(){ var targetUrl; if (event.target && event.target.nodeName == 'IFRAME') { targetUrl = extractParamFromUri(event.target.src, 'url'); } _gaq.push(['_trackSocial', 'twitter', 'retweet', targetUrl]); }); function extractParamFromUri(uri, paramName){ if(!uri){ return; } var uri = uri.split('#')[0]; //remove anchor var parts = uri.split('?'); //check for query params if(parts.length == 1){ return; //no params } var query = decodeURI(parts[1]); //find the url param paramName += '='; var params = query.split('&'); for(var i = 0, param; param = params[i]; ++i){ if(param.indexOf(paramName) === 0){ return unescape(param.split('=')[1]); } } } </script> </div> <div class="as_button"><g:plusone size="tall" count="true" href="http://www.gizmag.com/bioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel/20406/"></g:plusone></div> <div class="as_button"><su:badge layout="5"></su:badge></div> <div class="as_button"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gizmag.com%2Fbioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel%2F20406%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.gizmag.com%2Fhero%2Fbioinspired_tape.jpg&description=With+inspiration+from+nature%2C+researchers+have+created+a+new+dry+adhesive+tape+that+is+not+only+boasts+impressive+adhesive+strength%2C+but+can+also+be+attached+and+detached+thousands+of+times+without+losing+its+adhesive+properties." class="pin-it-button" count-layout="vertical"><img border="0" src="//web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It"/></a> </div> <div class="as_button"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"></script><script type="IN/Share" data-counter="top"></script></div> <div class="as_button"><script type="text/javascript">reddit_newwindow='1'</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.reddit.com/static/button/button2.js"></script></div> </div> <div id="hero_box" style="width: 530px;"> <a id="hero_link" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/bioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel/20406/picture/146718/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/bioinspired_tape.jpg" title="Surrounded by other team members, Achim Oesert from the University of Kiel hangs from the ..." width="530" height="297" alt="Surrounded by other team members, Achim Oesert from the University of Kiel hangs from the ..." border="0"/></a><div class="pic_caption"> <p>Surrounded by other team members, Achim Oesert from the University of Kiel hangs from the ceiling using bioinspired polymer tape (Image: University of Kiel) alongside an image of a gecko (Image: Wahj via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.flickr.com/photos/thirtypounces/54014101/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>)</p> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div class="article_body"> <div id="top_unit"></div> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script> <p>As is so often the case these days for those searching for a better way to stick stuff together, researchers from the Zoological Institute at the University of Kiel in Germany have turned to the biology of gravity-defying ceiling walkers, such as geckos and insects. These creatures served as inspiration for a new dry adhesive tape that not only boasts impressive bonding strength, but can also be attached and detached thousands of times without losing its adhesive properties.</p> <p>The secret to the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/setae-adhesive-force-cambridge/18341/" target="_blank">wall climbing ability</a> of many insects and geckos lies in the thousands of tiny hairs called setae that cover their feet and legs. The sheer abundance of these hairs, coupled with flattened tips that can splay out to maximize contact on even rough surface areas, make it sufficient for the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_der_Waals_force" target="_blank">Van der Waals forces</a>, which operate at a molecular level and are relatively weak compared to normal chemical bonds, to provide the requisite adhesive strength that allows them to scurry along walls and ceilings.</p> <p>It is this technique that the research group, led by Stanislav Gorb, have mimicked with their silicone tape. By patterning the tape with tiny hairs similar to setae, they created a tape that was at least two times harder to pull off of a surface than a flat tape of the same material. Additionally, the bioinspired tape leaves no sticky residue, can also work underwater, and can be repeatedly peeled off thousands of times without losing its ability to grip.</p> <p>Providing an illustration of the adhesive properties of the new tape, a 20 x 20 cm (7.87 in) square piece was able to support the weight of one team member dangling from the ceiling.</p> <p>The researchers are also looking to nature in the form of beetle coverwings, snake skin, and anti-adhesive plants, for inspiration for other bioinspired materials.</p> <p>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.uni-kiel.de/index-e.shtml" target="_blank">University of Kiel</a> team presented their findings at the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www2.avs.org/symposium/AVS58/pages/greetings.html" target="_blank">AVS Symposium</a> held in Nashville earlier this month.</p>  <div id="bottom_unit"> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script> </div> </div> <span class="title share_bar">Share</span> <div id="article_share_bar" class="dotsontop share_bar"> <span class="as_button fb_as_button"><fb:like href="http://www.gizmag.com/bioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel/20406/" send="false" show_faces="false" font="" layout="box_count" id="facebook_like"></fb:like><script type="text/javascript">_ga.trackFacebook();</script></span> <span class="as_button"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="gizmag">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> twttr.events.bind('tweet', function(event) { if (event) { var targetUrl; if (event.target && event.target.nodeName == 'IFRAME') { targetUrl = extractParamFromUri(event.target.src, 'url'); } _gaq.push(['_trackSocial', 'twitter', 'tweet', targetUrl]); } }); twttr.events.bind('retweet', function(){ var targetUrl; if (event.target && event.target.nodeName == 'IFRAME') { targetUrl = extractParamFromUri(event.target.src, 'url'); } _gaq.push(['_trackSocial', 'twitter', 'retweet', targetUrl]); }); function extractParamFromUri(uri, paramName){ if(!uri){ return; } var uri = uri.split('#')[0]; //remove anchor var parts = uri.split('?'); //check for query params if(parts.length == 1){ return; //no params } var query = decodeURI(parts[1]); //find the url param paramName += '='; var params = query.split('&'); for(var i = 0, param; param = params[i]; ++i){ if(param.indexOf(paramName) === 0){ return unescape(param.split('=')[1]); } } } </script> </span> <span class="as_button"><g:plusone size="tall" count="true" href="http://www.gizmag.com/bioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel/20406/"></g:plusone></span> <span class="as_button"><su:badge layout="5"></su:badge></span> <span class="as_button"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gizmag.com%2Fbioinspired-adhesive-tape-kiel%2F20406%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.gizmag.com%2Fhero%2Fbioinspired_tape.jpg&description=With inspiration from nature, researchers have created a new dry adhesive tape that is not only boasts impressive adhesive strength, but can also be attached and detached thousands of times without losing its adhesive properties." class="pin-it-button" count-layout="vertical"><img border="0" src="//web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It"/></a> </span> <span class="as_button"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"></script><script type="IN/Share" data-counter="top"></script></span> <span class="as_button"><script type="text/javascript">reddit_newwindow='1'</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.reddit.com/static/button/button2.js"></script></span> </div>   <div id="tags"> <span class="title">Tags</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <ul> <li>» <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/adhesive/" rel="tag">Adhesive</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/biomimicry/" rel="tag">Biomimicry</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/gecko/" rel="tag">Gecko</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/insect/" rel="tag">Insect</a></li> <li class="clear_both"></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="bing_unit"></div>  <span class="title" id="comments">User Comments (12)</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="comment_dots">  <div id="comment-89962" class="a_comment"> <p>Yet another case of adopting from Mother nature. </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Anumakonda Jagadeesh</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 07:10 am PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-89968" class="a_comment"> <p>Love these guys. </p> <p>They are on the right track when they are looking for anti-adhesive properties in plants as well. </p> <p>I hope some large company doesn't acquire their ideas and suppress them in order to keep selling one-use disposable adhesives. </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Mirmillion</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 07:43 am PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-89992" class="a_comment"> <p>Of course, if the reusable tape is ever applied to a dirty, dusty, or greasy surface, it's rendered useless; and, of course, the effect would be cumulative, losing a bit of adhesion each time it's used, due to dust in the air settling onto most surfaces. </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">William H Lanteigne</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 09:13 am PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-90022" class="a_comment"> <p>Very cool! </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Kirill Belousov</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 11:29 am PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-90031" class="a_comment"> <p>"Providing an illustration of the adhesive properties of the new tape, a 20 x 20 cm (7.87 in) square piece was able to support the weight of one team member dangling from the ceiling." </p> <p></p> <p>That's great, but that's a useless number for comparison. </p> <p></p> <p>I note that every explanation of this tape's strength is compared to itself or nothing at all. That makes me suspect this isn't very strong tape. </p> <p></p> <p>So how much duct tape do you need, or double sided carpet tape, to lift the same person? </p> <p></p> <p></p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Maury Markowitz</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 12:06 pm PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-90049" class="a_comment"> <p>re; Maury Markowitz </p> <p></p> <p>Several square yards. </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Slowburn</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 02:39 pm PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-90058" class="a_comment"> <p>Get this into mass production and smart criminals will love it. They'll be able to tape things up without leaving fingerprints in the adhesive. That's caught many criminals who thought they'd cleaned up everything. </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Gregg Eshelman</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 03:07 pm PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-90076" class="a_comment"> <p>@Slowburn, how do you figure that? It looks from the picture as though the guy is holding onto a suction pad for handling glass, which is presumably holding onto the tape, in turn taped to the glass. Assuming a good seal to the pad, a 20x20 square of duct tape would seem very trustworthy to me, as pulling it straight off the glass requires a huge amount of force. I wouldn't be surprised if 20x20 of cello tape could hold a person under the same conditions. </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Marcus Carr</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 04:17 pm PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-90100" class="a_comment"> <p>How will they keep the tape from sticking to itself? </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">er2joe</span> <span class="date">- November 7, 2011 @ 08:34 pm PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-90148" class="a_comment"> <p>re; Marcus Carr </p> <p></p> <p>I have worked with the stuff, and watched Mythbusters. </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Slowburn</span> <span class="date">- November 8, 2011 @ 07:16 am PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-90166" class="a_comment"> <p>Marcus is right. Even if one square inch of duct tape can only hold one pound of force, then only one square yard will hold almost 1300 lbs., assuming ideal load distribution similar to how their doing in the photo. Duct tape should hold over 5 lbs. per square inch, making an 8 in. by 8 in. patch of duct tape glue more than enough to hold that guy in the picture. </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Bob Tackett</span> <span class="date">- November 8, 2011 @ 08:19 am PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-100771" class="a_comment"> <p>Is it a safe material or could there be skin irritations on Tissue ? </p> <p>Also where is it available? </p> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Helga Schmidt</span> <span class="date">- January 4, 2012 @ 05:31 pm PST</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> </div> <span class="title">Post a Comment</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="comment_form_div"> <div id="comment_form" data-article="20406"> <div id="comments_login"> <form action="" style="clear: both; padding-top: 0px;" name="login_form" id="login_form" onsubmit="return false;"> <p><strong>Login with your gizmag account:</strong></p> <p id="login_status"></p> <label for="email">Email</label><input type="text" class="text" name="email" id="email" value=""/><br/><br/> <label for="password">Password</label><input type="password" class="text" name="password" id="password" value=""/><br/> <div> <input type="submit" style="float: right" id="submit" value="Log In"/> <div id="options"> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/register/">Register here</a>       <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/new_password/">Forgotten your password?</a> </div> </div> <input type="hidden" id="expired_comment" value=""/> </form> </div> <div id="facebook_login"> <p>Or <strong>Login with Facebook:</strong></p><br/> <fb:login-button scope="email" max-rows="1" onlogin="loginFUser(20406);" autologoutlink="true"></fb:login-button> </div> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <br/> <span class="title">Related Articles</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <div id="related_articles"> <div class="pair"> <div> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/3m-kind-removal-silicone-tape-easier-on-skin/18862/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="3M's new Kind Removal Silicone Tape is said to cause less discomfort and skin damage upon ..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/3mkrst.jpg" alt="3M's new Kind Removal Silicone Tape is said to cause less discomfort and skin damage upon ..."/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/3m-kind-removal-silicone-tape-easier-on-skin/18862/">New 3M medical tape offers pain-free removal</a> </div> <div> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/go/3547/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="Bio-degradable packaging tape developed "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/3547_01.jpg" alt="Bio-degradable packaging tape developed "/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/go/3547/">Bio-degradable packaging tape developed </a> </div> <div class="clear_both" style="height: 10px;"></div> </div> <div class="pair"> <div> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/osu-pressure-sensitive-adhesive-discovery/15695/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="In the search for a hot-melt composite adhesive Professor Kaichang Li noticed a sticky res..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/kaichang-li.jpg" alt="In the search for a hot-melt composite adhesive Professor Kaichang Li noticed a sticky res..."/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/osu-pressure-sensitive-adhesive-discovery/15695/">New environmentally benign adhesive for pressure sensitive tape developed</a> </div> <div> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/setae-adhesive-force-cambridge/18341/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="Leaf beetles use three shapes of adhesive hair in a specific pattern to allow for greater ..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/beetlesetae.jpg" alt="Leaf beetles use three shapes of adhesive hair in a specific pattern to allow for greater ..."/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/setae-adhesive-force-cambridge/18341/">Research sheds new light on wall-climbing critters</a> </div> <div class="clear_both" style="height: 10px;"></div> </div> <div class="pair"> <div> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/stickybot/16177/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="Paul Day and Alan Asbeck worked on adhesives for the feet of the gecko-like Stickybot (Ima..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/stickybot.jpg" alt="Paul Day and Alan Asbeck worked on adhesives for the feet of the gecko-like Stickybot (Ima..."/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/stickybot/16177/">Stickybot mimics gecko biology to get a leg up</a> </div> <div> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/voice-recording-tape-measure/9295/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="Voice Recording Tape Measure"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/9295_14050835400.jpg" alt="Voice Recording Tape Measure"/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/voice-recording-tape-measure/9295/">Voice Recording Tape Measure</a> </div> <div class="clear_both" style="height: 10px;"></div> </div> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div>  <span class="title">Email this article to a friend</span> <div id="email_friend_div" class="dotsontop padding10"> <p><em>Just enter your friends and your email address into the form below</em></p> <p><span id="emailfriendnote">For multiple addresses, separate each with a comma</span></p> <form id="emailafriend" name="emailafriend" action="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/email/friend" class="padding10" onsubmit="email_friend_valid('email_friend', 20406, document.emailafriend.friendsemail.value, document.emailafriend.youremail.value); return false; "> <div id="emailresult"></div> <div class="emailbox"> <label for="youremail">Your Email</label><br/> <input id="youremail" type="text" name="youremail"/> </div> <div class="emailbox"> <label for="friendsemail">Friends Email</label><br/> <input id="friendsemail" type="text" name="friendsemail"/> </div> <div class="emailbutton"> <input type="submit" value="Email"/> </div> </form> <br class="clear_both"/> <p id="privacy">Privacy is safe with us because we have a strict <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/privacy/">privacy policy</a>.</p> </div>  <div id="search_form_bottom"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/search/" id="cse-search-box-bottom"> <span class="title">Looking for something? Search our 18,105 articles</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-1607124478120364:bqw4wo-1udf"/> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11"/> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"/> <input type="text" name="q" size="66" id="search_input"/> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search"/> </div> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.google.com/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box-bottom&lang=en"></script> </div> </div> <div id="right_cols"> <div class="island" id="island_top_right"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("island_top_right"); }); </script> </div> <div id="right_col_a"> <div id="right_col_b"> <div class="ad" id="skyscraper_right"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("skyscraper_right"); }); </script> </div> <div class="ad"> <span class="title">Sections</span> <ul class="dots" id="sections_list"> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/aerogizmo/">Aero Gizmo</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/architecture/">Architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/aroundthehome/">Around The Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/automotive/">Automotive</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/babygizmo/">Baby Gizmo</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/childsplay/">Childsplay</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/digital-cameras/">Digital Cameras</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/ecogizmo/">ecoGizmo</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/electronics/">Electronics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/games/">Games</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/goodthinking/">Good Thinking</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/health/">Health and Wellbeing</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/destinations/">Holiday Destinations</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/homeentertainment/">Home Entertainment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/remarkablepeople/">Inventors and Remarkable People</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/laptops/">Laptops</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/military/">Military</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/mobiletechnology/">Mobile Technology</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/motorcycles/">Motorcycles</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/music/">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/onthewater/">On the Water</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/outdoors/">Outdoors</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/personalcomputing/">Personal Computing</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/petgizmos/">Pet Gizmos</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/podcasts/">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/researchwatch/">Research Watch</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/robotics/">Robotics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/scienceandeducation/">Science and Education</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/sports/">Sports</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/spygear/">Spy Gear</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/telecommunications/">Telecommunications</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/urbantransport/">Urban Transport</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/wearableelectronics/">Wearable Electronics</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <span class="title">Recent popular articles in Research Watch</span> <ul id="vertical_sprite"> <li class="img sect_37" id="story0"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/efficient-inexact-computer-chip/22591/" title="" inexact" computer chip makes mistakes, but is 15x more efficient"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/efficient-inexact-computer-chip/22591/">"Inexact" computer chip makes mistakes, but is 15x more efficient</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story1"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/co2-li3n-reaction/22620/" title="Chemical reaction eats up CO2 to produce energy ... and other useful stuff"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/co2-li3n-reaction/22620/">Chemical reaction eats up CO2 to produce energy ... and other useful stuff</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story2"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/generating-electricity-from-harmless-viruses/22549/" title="Electric virus powers liquid crystal display in piezoelectric breakthrough"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/generating-electricity-from-harmless-viruses/22549/">Electric virus powers liquid crystal display in piezoelectric breakthrough</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story3"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/lotus-leaf-diagnostic-devices/22539/" title="Lotus leaf inspires new diagnostic technology"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/lotus-leaf-diagnostic-devices/22539/">Lotus leaf inspires new diagnostic technology</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story4"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/underwater-dolphin-speaker/22573/" title="" dolphin speaker" could pave the way for human-cetacean communication"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/underwater-dolphin-speaker/22573/">"Dolphin speaker" could pave the way for human-cetacean communication</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story5"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/chicken-sounds-computer-system/22587/" title="Poultry scientists working on " chicken translator""></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/chicken-sounds-computer-system/22587/">Poultry scientists working on "chicken translator"</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story6"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/nems-scale-yoctogram-cit/22600/" title="Researchers break sensitivity record for mass measurement"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/nems-scale-yoctogram-cit/22600/">Researchers break sensitivity record for mass measurement</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story7"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/wind-prospecting-balloon/22598/" title="Wind-prospecting balloon could seek out locations for turbines"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/wind-prospecting-balloon/22598/">Wind-prospecting balloon could seek out locations for turbines</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story8"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/diet-buckyballs-extending-lifespan/22245/" title="Diet of buckyballs nearly doubles rat lifespan"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/diet-buckyballs-extending-lifespan/22245/">Diet of buckyballs nearly doubles rat lifespan</a></li> <li class="img sect_37" id="story9"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/majorana-fermions-detected/22241/" title="Majorana fermions – the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything?"></a></li> <li class="ar_title"><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/majorana-fermions-detected/22241/">Majorana fermions – the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything?</a></li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> <div class="island" id="island_bottom_right"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("island_bottom_right"); }); </script> </div>  </div>  </div> <div class="clear_left"></div>  </div>  <div id="footer_outer"> <div id="footer"> <div id="footer_items_top"></div> <div id="footer_items_mid">  <div class="footer_item" id="footer_popular"> <span class="title">Most Popular Articles</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <div class="tabs"> <a onclick="swap_tab('popular_today', 'popular_week', 'popular_all'); sndReqArg('popular_articles', '86400');" id="popular_today" style="font-weight: bold">Today</a> <a onclick="swap_tab('popular_week', 'popular_all', 'popular_today'); sndReqArg('popular_articles', '604800');" id="popular_week">Last Week</a> <a onclick="swap_tab('popular_all', 'popular_week', 'popular_today'); sndReqArg('popular_articles', '');" id="popular_all">All Time</a> </div> <ul id="popular_articles">  <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/unikey-door-lock-app/22635/">UniKey replaces physical door lock key with an app</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/siemens-ehighway-of-the-future-concept/22648/">Siemens tests "eHighway of the Future" vision with tram-like overhead cables</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/cancer-drug-soaking-soybeans/22605/">Natural cancer drug available from soaking soybeans</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/hybrid-blue-racecar/22640/">Students build an award-winning hybrid racecar</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/microsof-socl/22645/">Microsoft launches So.cl social network</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/dragon-drive/22647/">Dragon Drive! aims to deliver distraction-free driving for the connected car</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/duacti-diavel-review-road-test-2012/22646/">Video road test: 2012 Ducati Diavel</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/tesla-model-s-june-release/22642/">Tesla Model S gets June release date and personalization updates</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/cctv-headquarters-defy-gravity/22615/">Bizarre CCTV headquarters seems to defy gravity</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/wfoil-group-hydrofoil-seaplane/22618/">Wfoil 18 Albatross: WW1 seaplane with modern hydrofoil design can hit 50 knots</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="footer_item" id="footer_commented"> <span class="title">Most Commented Articles</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <div class="tabs"> <a onclick="swap_tab('commented_today', 'commented_week', 'commented_all'); sndReqArg('commented_articles', '86400');" id="commented_today">Today</a> <a onclick="swap_tab('commented_week', 'commented_all', 'commented_today'); sndReqArg('commented_articles', '604800');" id="commented_week" style="font-weight: bold">Last Week</a> <a onclick="swap_tab('commented_all', 'commented_week', 'commented_today'); sndReqArg('commented_articles', '');" id="commented_all">All Time</a> </div> <ul id="commented_articles">  <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/siemens-ehighway-of-the-future-concept/22648/">Siemens tests "eHighway of the Future" vision with tram-like overhead cables</a> (23)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/worlds-smallest-manned-suborbital-vehicle-copenhagen/22525/">Standing room only - the world's tiniest manned suborbital vehicle</a> (17)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/efficient-inexact-computer-chip/22591/">"Inexact" computer chip makes mistakes, but is 15x more efficient</a> (14)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/quadrofoil-electric-hydrofoil-watercraft/22560/">The Quadrofoil: Ecologically-sound electric hydrofoil sportscar for the water</a> (14)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/mitsubishi-imiev-pikes-peak/22594/">Race-ready Mitsubishi i-Miev to take on Pikes Peak</a> (13)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/gasoline-powered-diesel-like-engine/22608/">Gasoline-powered diesel-like engine could boost fuel economy by 50 percent</a> (13)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/cctv-headquarters-defy-gravity/22615/">Bizarre CCTV headquarters seems to defy gravity</a> (12)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/low-cost-large-area-piezoelectric-nanogenerator/22468/">KAIST develops low-cost, large-area piezoelectric nanogenerator</a> (11)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/backer-capper-lens-changing/22597/">Backer Capper allows for one-handed lens-swapping</a> (11)</li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/ford-c-max-hybrid-undercuts-toyota-prius/22583/">Ford C-MAX hybrid undercuts the Toyota Prius</a> (11)</li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="footer_item nomargin" style="margin: 0px;" id="footer_subscribe"> <span class="title">Subscribe to Gizmag</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <form id="footer_email" action="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/newsletter/" method="post"> <p>Subscribe to Gizmag's email newsletter:</p> <input type="hidden" name="action" value="subscribe"/> <input type="hidden" name="location" value="footer"/> <input type="text" name="email" class="email" value="Enter Your Email Address ..." onclick="this.value=''"/> <input type="image" value="Go" class="submit" src="/web/20120524180805im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/gobutton.png"/> </form> <div class="subscribe_options"> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://twitter.com/gizmag/" class="twitter_footer greytitle"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/twitter-bird-med.png" alt="Follow Gizmag on Twitter" align="left"/> <span class="small">Follow Gizmag on</span><br/> <span class="large">Twitter</span></a> </div> <div class="subscribe_options"> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://www.youtube.com/user/gizmag/" class="youtube_footer greytitle"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/youtube_logo_med.png" alt="Subscribe to Gizmag's YouTube Channel" align="left"/> <span class="small">Subscribe to Gizmag's</span><br/> <span class="large">YouTube channel</span></a> </div> <div class="subscribe_options"> <a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/xml/" class="rss_footer greytitle"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/rss_icon_footer.png" alt="" align="left"/> <span class="small">Subscribe to Gizmag's </span><br/> <span class="large">RSS feed</span></a> </div> <div id="googleplus_footer" class="subscribe_options"> <g:plus href="https://plus.google.com/105149739082983197804" width="260" height="131" theme="light"></g:plus> </div>  <div class="stumbleupon_footer"> <su:follow ref="21057162" layout="2"></su:follow> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var li = document.createElement('script'); li.type = 'text/javascript'; li.async = true; li.src = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/js/widgets-follow.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(li, s); })(); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="footer_items_bottom"></div> <div id="copyright"><em>All content copyright © Gizmag 2003 - 2012</em></div> <div class="clear_left"></div> </div> </div> <div class="index" id="footer_index"> <div class="index_center bottom_strip"> <ul> <li><a href="#top">Top</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/newsletter/">Email News</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/about/">About</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/privacy/">Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/termsofuse/">Terms & Conditions</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120524180805/http://www.gizmag.com/advertise/" class="brighter">Advertise</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var li = document.createElement('script'); li.type = 'text/javascript'; li.async = true; li.src = window.location.protocol + '//web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/http://platform.stumbleupon.com/1/widgets.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(li, s); })(); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20120524180805cs_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/jqmodal/jqModal.css"/> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/jqmodal/jqModal.js"></script> <div id="subscribe_overlay_container" class="jqmWindow"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120524180805js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/subscribe_overlay.js?x=1337882886"></script>  <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://static.getclicky.com/js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript">clicky.init(110681);</script> <noscript><p><img alt="Clicky" width="1" height="1" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805im_/http://in.getclicky.com/110681ns.gif"/></p></noscript>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://static.fmpub.net/site/gizmag"></script>  <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={uid:4159,domain:"gizmag.com"}; (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805/https://s3.amazonaws.com/" : "http://") + "static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js"); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120524180805js_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/new.cetrk.com/pages/scripts/0008/8786.js"> </script>   <div id="bottom_include"> <script type="text/javascript">googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("bottom_include"); });</script> </div>    </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Biologically inspired adhesive tape can be reused thousands of times