Gecko riddle comes unstuck Scientists believe that they have uncovered the
mystery of how geckos can run up walls and windows and cling to
ceilings. Geckos have millions of tiny hairs, called
‘setae’, which cover the toes of their feet. The hairs
are believed to give off a faint electrical charge which generates
a phenomenon called ‘van der Walls forces’ when the
feet touch another surface. Van der Walls forces are a form of
attraction between molecules, and the millions of hair fibres found
on a gecko’s toes transform this force into an amazing
adhesive power when they touch any surface. 15 JUNE 2000
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