New superglue may help Spidey come closer to reality…or not
An incredible new Gecko-like glue is said to be the stickiest yet. Using some fancy-schmancy system of carbon nanotubes enhanced with curly strands of carbon, the new glue is 10 times stickier than a gecko’s feet. The substance’s adhesive qualities can also be measured in a unit we all understand:
A 1-inch (2.5-cm) square of the adhesive can support the weight of a 220-pound (100-kg) man climbing up a vertical surface, but it can be easily lifted and reapplied, an ideal material for, say, a Spider-Man suit.
“That is not real. What we do is real,” said Zhong Lin Wang of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, referring to the comic book superhero’s wall-climbing prowess.
Way to be snotty, science head. Like you don’t want to sleep on a Rhino mattress.
10/17/08 at 9:05 am
Awww, leave the poor egg-head alone. His name is Wang and he works at the GIT. He probably gets made fun of all the time. Maybe he’s a little defensive.
A question for Mr. Wang though: A 1 inch square of adhesive can hold 220 lbs , but I’m pretty sure a 1 inch square of human skin can not hold that much. So wouldn’t someone climbing a wall be likely to fall to their death while leaving their fingertips firmly glued to the wall.
10/17/08 at 11:33 am
Well, I know through the body mod scene that human skin (when pierced) can hold about 90 pounds per square inch.
Also, I doubt the adhesive would be 2-sided. And you’d have it anchored to a strong fabric that can hold the weight, which would distribute the load to the rest of your body. Physics, people!
10/17/08 at 4:14 pm
Can the glue be applied, removed, and the reapplied? Or is it only good for gluing your drunk frat brother to the side of a building?
No, Spider-Man is not real. Neither is Star Trek. But forty years later, we’re walking around with bluetooth earpieces, multi-ethnic personnel are working in harmony with each other, and nobody really cares if a black girl kisses a white guy on TV.
As for the one-inch square, do you really think some guy is going to climb a building with just a one-inch square on his glove or hand? No, the entire glove will be covered, with spreads the weight out over a greater surface area. Add some gum boots (HAR!) and wall-climbing will be pretty easy.
10/19/08 at 3:54 pm
“That is not real. What we do is real,” said Zhong Lin Wang of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, referring to the comic book superhero’s wall-climbing prowess.
Suck it Wang! Does he realize that Spider-Man’s powers are based on spider’s abilities to climb walls, WHICH IS REAL!??!?!!!
10/19/08 at 5:07 pm
I have but one question:
Will the glove and boot ensemble be available in red or black?