Early Bird Science

Snail Slime Inspires Superglue


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Kristen discusses a new superglue from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania that imitates the way snail slime works. The adhesive is not only super strong - It stuck a human to the ceiling! - but is also reversible, a combination of properties that is currently rare and in-demand in areas like auto manufacturing, household use, robotics, research, and medicine. Kristen also gives an overview of how this new invention could make it to you as a consumer in the future through a process called "technology transfer."

References and Resources

  • More details and video of a grad student suspending himself from ceiling with this adhesive: https://medium.com/penn-engineering/penn-engineers-demonstrate-superstrong-reversible-adhesive-that-works-like-snail-slime-9b98cc3db257
  • Primary publication: https://www.pnas.org/content/116/28/13774
  • Article: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-engineers-demonstrate-superstrong-reversible-adhesive-works-snail-slime

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Early Bird ScienceBy Kristen Ruka

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