Publications by authors named "Michael S Prowse"
Geckos owe their remarkable stickiness to millions of dry setae on their toes, and the mechanism of adhesion in gecko setae has been the topic of scientific scrutiny for over two centuries. Previously, we demonstrated that van der Waals forces are sufficient for strong adhesion and friction in gecko setae, and that water-based capillary adhesion is not required. However, recent studies demonstrated that adhesion increases with relative humidity (RH) and proposed that surface hydration and capillary water bridge formation is important or even necessary.
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- The study tested how increased relative humidity (RH) affects the mechanical properties of keratin in gecko foot hairs (setae).
- Results showed that higher RH significantly reduced the stiffness and increased the strain to failure of the setae, indicating a transition to more viscous deformation.
- The findings suggest that softer setal keratin due to higher humidity enhances the gecko's ability to adhere and grip surfaces.