There’s human debris floating around the earth, and cleaning it up is posing to be a challenging task. Researchers from NASA’s laboratory in Pasadena, California have come up with a gripping device that could be affixed to robots to clean space. The gripping pads work the same way a gecko sticks to a wall—with tiny hairs on its feet. The gecko-inspired gripper become sticky, or un-sticky, depending on which way you apply force to the object you are trying to grab. Aside from cleaning space, the new grippers could be a smoother and safer way to dock satellites and spacecraft during flight. See this test video.
Gecko inspired grippers to clean space
More of Today's Solutions
White-tailed eagles return to southern England after 240-year hiatus
For centuries, there's been an eagle-shaped hole in the skies over England where the majestic white-tailed eagle once soared. The enormous raptor — its ...
Read MoreStudy: Drinking the right amount of caffeine may lower diabetes risks
While too much caffeine from coffee may cause unpleasant side effects such as anxiety or insomnia, that doesn’t mean you should cut your caffeine ...
Read MoreTransforming migrant rhetoric is key in preventing genocides
The recent outbreak of war in Ukraine has forced many refugees to seek safety in countries throughout Europe. They are one part of a ...
Read MoreThese microbes could help honey bees thrive
As we like to remind our readers a lot at The Optimist Daily, honeybees are essential for our planet's ecosystem. Humans rely on these ...
Read More
