Gecko-inspired

Intensifying snow convinced me to head home a little earlier than normal today. My car radio is always tuned to NPR, and this afternoon's treat was a listen to Science Friday. The topic? The sticky feet of geckos!

Have you ever wondered how these little lizards can scurry up walls and across ceilings without falling? Apparently the pads on their toes are "built" to stick, and medical researchers have used the gecko's pads as an inspiration to create a biodegradable surgical adhesive bandage.

The creatures of the world are truly amazing, aren't they? (And yes, I do mean both creatures like the gecko and my fellow humans who have the ability to use puzzles like this to create new things.)

Curious? There are some jumping-off-point links in this summary of today's program Gecko-Inspired Bandages for Medical Use.