Ask a Science Librarian

Theme: All Topics

Authors

  • Margaret Clifton

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5062/F43F4MJN

Abstract

Discusses the reason behind the ability of a spider to walk across a ceiling without falling. Anatomy of spiders; Details of the study taken by a German and Swiss scientific team at the University of Zurich, Switzerland to examine spider legs; Description of van der Waals forces.

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References

Kesel, A.B., Martin, A., and Seidl, T. 2004. Getting a grip on spider attachment. Smart Materials & Structures. [Abstract online.] Available: {http://iopscience.iop.org/0964-1726/13/3/009} [Accessed July 25, 2005].

The Hungry Jumping Spider Climbed Up the Waterspout. 2004. [Online]. Available: http://whyfiles.org/shorties/152sticky_spider/ [Accessed July 25, 2005].

Scanning electron microscope image of the foot of the jumping spider. 2004. [Online]. Available: {http://web.archive.org/web/20060208170842/http://physics.iop.org/IOP/Press/spiders1a.jpg In: Spiders make best ever Post-It notes. Available: {http://web.archive.org/web/20060202095306/http://physics.iop.org/IOP/Press/PR2904.html} [Accessed July 25, 2005].

Intermolecular Bonding - van der Waals Forces. 2000. [Online]. Available: http://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/bonding/vdw.html [Accessed July 25, 2005].

Selected Internet Resources - Physics. 2004. [Online]. Available: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/selected-internet/physics.html [Accessed July 26, 2005].

Science Tracer Bullets Online: Nanotechnology [Online]. Available: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/tracer-bullets/nanotechnologytb.html [Accessed July 26, 2005].

Parsegian, V. Adrian. 2005. Van der Waals Forces. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Langbein, Dieter W. 1974. Theory of Van der Waals Attraction. Berlin, New York: Springer-Verlag.

Knight, Will. 2003. Gecko tape will stick you to the ceiling. NewScientist.com news service. [Online]. Available: {https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3785-gecko-tape-will-stick-you-to-ceiling/} [Accessed July 26, 2005].

Graham-Rowe, Duncan. 2003. Synthetic gecko hairs promise walking up walls. NewScientist.com news service. [Online]. Available: {https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3726-synthetic-gecko-hairs-promise-walking-up-walls/} [Accessed July 26, 2005].

Kaufman, Marc. 2004. Science; notebook. Washington Post. (Apr. 19, 2004, Final ed. p. A-8).

Kesel, A.B., et al. 2004. Getting a grip on spider attachment: an AFM approach to microstructure adhesion in arthropods. Smart Materials & Structures 13(3): 512-518.

Geim, A.K., et al. 2003. Microfabricated adhesive mimicking gecko foot-hair. Nature Materials 2: 461-463.

Johannes Diderik van der Waals -- Biography N.D. IN: Nobel Lectures, Physics 1901-1921 (Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1967). [Online]. Available: http://nobelprize.org/physics/laureates/1910/waals-bio.html [Accessed: August 5, 2005]

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Published

2005-08-16

How to Cite

Clifton, M. (2005). Ask a Science Librarian: Theme: All Topics. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, (43). https://doi.org/10.5062/F43F4MJN

Issue

Section

Board Accepted Articles
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