From the elasticity of blood vessels, to the self-healing properties of bones, the strength of nacre, the smart adhesion of gecko feet, the self-cleaning quality of the lotus leaf, the resistance of the spiderweb, biology offers endless inspiration to nanomechanics, that might also bring some changes in our wardrobe. Nicola Pugno, an engineer and physicist at Università di Treno, Italy, has already made the news for his research on hierarchical nanotube or graphene adhesive system strong enough to suspend a person's full body weight from a wall or a ceiling, while also being easily detachable. At Falling Walls Nicola Pugno, who is the founder and Head of the Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Nanomechanics, receiver of the 2011 Starting Grant from the European Research Council, and author of about 180 International Journal papers on Solid-, Structural-, Fracture-, Bio- and Nano-Mechanics in leading international journals (including Nature and Nature Materials), presented the next wonders from his acclaimed research on bio- inspired nanomaterials. Spiderman fans beware: watching this presentation might take some magic off of your hero.
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