The gecko “stickiness” is a complex phenomenon that borders on cosmic level spookiness. It amounts to an ability to create bonding forces at a molecular level that can be turned on and off by the gecko depending on whether it’s feet need to stick to or be pulled away from a given surface.
There are tens of thousands of the tiny setae. And each of the setae is branched out into thousands of spatulae. So the gecko’s foot has millions of the super-tiny spatulae that are the locus of the binding and unbinding electrical molecular attraction that gives the animal this, well, Spider-Man level superpower.
The key is something called “van der Waals forces” which is generally defined as “the relatively weak attractive forces that act on neutral atoms and molecules and that arise because of the electric polarization induced in each of the particles by the presence of other particles.”
We’re reaching a limit, here. A limit where physics edges towards quantum physics, where the merely phenomenal borders on the mystical, the physical on the metaphysical.
Reminds me of the Chesapeake Light Tower where I use to spearfish (They all must have the same design). I knew a guy who bought one of the lighthouse buoys in the bay near the Hampton Rds. Tunnel. He said looking back he would never do it again. There was a lot of dangerous work to furnish it. The dangerous part is getting onto the ladder during high waves without you or the boat getting banged or crushed into the structure. Here’s the article. It took me over 30 minutes to locate it.
jimmjonzz Premium Member over 4 years ago
The gecko “stickiness” is a complex phenomenon that borders on cosmic level spookiness. It amounts to an ability to create bonding forces at a molecular level that can be turned on and off by the gecko depending on whether it’s feet need to stick to or be pulled away from a given surface.
There are tens of thousands of the tiny setae. And each of the setae is branched out into thousands of spatulae. So the gecko’s foot has millions of the super-tiny spatulae that are the locus of the binding and unbinding electrical molecular attraction that gives the animal this, well, Spider-Man level superpower.
The key is something called “van der Waals forces” which is generally defined as “the relatively weak attractive forces that act on neutral atoms and molecules and that arise because of the electric polarization induced in each of the particles by the presence of other particles.”
We’re reaching a limit, here. A limit where physics edges towards quantum physics, where the merely phenomenal borders on the mystical, the physical on the metaphysical.
jpayne4040 over 4 years ago
The Frying Pan Tower must have some really cheap rates!
therese_callahan2002 over 4 years ago
15 minutes could save you 50% or more on stickiness insurance.
Durak Premium Member over 4 years ago
Was known as the most dangerous hotel. WAS.
Huckleberry Hiroshima over 4 years ago
Ah sweet setae.
J Short over 4 years ago
Reminds me of the Chesapeake Light Tower where I use to spearfish (They all must have the same design). I knew a guy who bought one of the lighthouse buoys in the bay near the Hampton Rds. Tunnel. He said looking back he would never do it again. There was a lot of dangerous work to furnish it. The dangerous part is getting onto the ladder during high waves without you or the boat getting banged or crushed into the structure. Here’s the article. It took me over 30 minutes to locate it.
https://www.pilotonline.com/news/article_06aaca30-f210-574b-8492-3971b59111b4.html
Chesapeake light tower: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=Chesapeake+light+tower+images&atb=v207-1&iax=images&ia=images
Julie478 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Video of the process of making the Kobe Bryant portrait out of toothpaste.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk5wwUlDYuY
Bilan over 4 years ago
If the geckos couldn’t turn off their stickiness, there wouldn’t be any more geckos.