How Gecko Feet Could Save Space Travel

Space is getting dangerously crowded. More than 50,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 centimetres are currently hurtling around Earth at breakneck speeds, turning Earth orbits into veritable minefields. Dead satellites, rocket fragments, and collision debris pose such a serious threat that the International Space Station regularly performs emergency manoeuvres to dodge potential impacts. Now, an international team of researchers thinks they’ve found an elegant solution to this growing crisis and it’s inspired by a humble house gecko’s amazing ability to walk on walls.