Newly engineered adhesive mimics octopus grip, holds a rock underwater for 7 days straight

Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new adhesive inspired by the gripping power of octopus suckers. This lets objects be gripped and released underwater with astounding control. Michael Bartlett, who led the team, was fascinated with how octopuses can cling to irregular, rough surfaces underwater and release them instantly. He managed to formulate an adhesive that does exactly that.

The adhesive is designed to mimic the flexible, adaptive nature of the octopus's sucker. In particular, the researchers focused on a part of the sucker called the infundibulum, which allows an octopus to securely grab a whole assortment of surfaces. They used a flexible stalk and a deformable membrane, and created a material that grips firmly onto uneven, curved, and rough surfaces with ease.

One of the major features of this adhesive is its strength and speed. It can increase its gripping force by up to 1,000 times when activated and can release objects within just 30 milliseconds. To showcase its capability, the researchers used it to lift and carefully place rocks underwater - a fitting display of the tech's potential for tasks that need precision. It even held a heavy rock underwater for more than seven whole days without losing grip.

This material could be incredibly useful for underwater tasks like salvage operations, rescue missions, and even helping divers handle slippery objects without much force. Bartlett's lab previously researched an octopus-inspired glove known as Octa-Glove, which helps divers attach to objects underwater using sensors. This new adhesive could make such technologies even more capable in underwater environments.