Anodyne
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
 

Bean Leaves 1, Bedbugs 0

"Using a casting process similar to one a sculptor might choose, the scientists replicated, with polymers from different epoxies, the geometry of the trichomes, the sharp point on their tips and their flexibility and strength. Sometimes the tips of the hooks broke off during the molding process, resulting in a hybrid of biological and fabricated materials.

On the natural leaves, bugs were snagged, on average, after six steps, or locomotory cycles. (In one cycle, each of the insect’s six legs moves once). Once stuck, they tried to free themselves, but they usually ended up just flailing in place around the impaled limb."
- posted by cjb @ 6:59 PM


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