Nano Tubes

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Spiderman has inspired millions of people everywhere with his heroics, ability to get the bad guy, and climb up walls. Now, thanks to Nicola Pugno at the Polytechnic University of Turin in Italy, you can do this too! He has come up with a way for an adhesive material  based on carbon nanotubes.

The inspiration actually comes from the feet of Geckos. They have millions of tiny hairs called setae that allow them to cling on to walls with ease. Setae are so powerful at a certain angle that they can hold the entire gecko upside down with a single toe! Pretty cool huh? Yet, change the angle and apply a smaller pressure and the little hairs let go with ease.

There are a few problems though, scale, cost and production. The idea is there, but when you scale it up, the nanotubes,  rather stick together, than to the surface of what you’re trying to climb. Ouch! Not to mention the unbelievable method that nanotubes are  produced which involve huge amounts of energy and vast precision.  Even then, the strength and durability of nanotubes make them a promising new technology that can revolutionize not only tape and "spidy" suits, but also car breaks and suspension bridges.