Caught on Tape: Gecko-inspired adhesive is superstrong

As it scurries along the ceiling, a gecko has the sticking power to support not just its own body weight, but about 400 times as much. Besides that sticking power, the natural adhesive on this animal's feet is clean and reusable, and it works on all surfaces, wet or dry.

Scientists at the University of Manchester in England and the Institute for Microelectronics Technology in Russia have emulated the animal's adhesive mechanism by creating "gecko tape." It comes closer to the l