Subject: geckos and van der Waals forces

There's a link on my homepage about an article (from The Columbus
Dispatch) about geckos and why their feet are "sticky" and they can
climb on walls.  It has to do with van der Waals attractive forces.
These are London Forces and Dipole-Dipole AF.  In this case, largely
(if not entirely) LF.  Amazing, something you've learned about this
quarter is actually applicable in your everyday life.  Well, at least
if you are a gecko or want to climb on walls like one.  Someday that
may just be possible.  They are now developing adhesives that
mimic the little hairs on the geckos feet that allow it to cling
to walls.

You will find the link toward the bottom of my homepage and I've
included it here,

http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/~rzellmer/gecko.pdf 

Dr. Zellmer