Question: how can tree frogs inspire inventions

Niall Crawford answered on 11 Mar 2013:

tree frogs have specialised pads on each of their toes, which help them to stick when climbing. The stickiness is special because it can work in all kinds of environments, wet, rough and dirty surfaces: these are all areas that something like sticky tape would struggle to stick. Seeing how frogs do this could help us design a tape or surface which can stick much better than ordinary sticky tape.