Engineers create geckoinspired, highfriction microfibers: "High friction materials can prevent sliding under high loads or steep inclines. The researchers found that the synthetic array of polypropylene fibers could hold a quarter to a glass slide inclined at an 80 degree angle, yet is not 'sticky' like adhesive tape. The fibers, packed 42 million per square centimeter, each measured a mere 20 microns long and 0.6 microns in diameter, or about 100 times thinner than a human hair.

'We think the result represents an important milestone in our ongoing research project to understand gecko adhesion,' said Ronald Fearing, UC Berkeley professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences and principal investigator of the project. "