Inspired by snails, scientists have created a reversible super-glue that can stick strongly to surfaces and still be removed when required.
Achieving both strong adhesion and or the ability to reverse the adhesion is challenging. Adhesives usually fall into one of two classes: strong but irreversible, like superglues, or reversible and reusable but weak.
Snails secrete a mucous that acts like super-glue, allowing them to adhere to rough surfaces like rocks.
Taking inspiration from this aspect of snail biology, scientists from University of Pennsylvania and Lehigh University in the US have created a super-glue-like material that is "intrinsically reversible."