The Climber's Boot Hypothesis

Gekos can climb on incredibly smooth surfaces, and they don't cause any damage to those smooth surfaces. So the micro hooks idea was kind of out, because it's it's not digging into the surface. Even earlier than that, there was what i think is actually still a common misconception that somehow the gek's foot acts as a sort of suction cup. But actually the geco can still climb and cling on to surfaces, even when there is very, very low air. And the hares are at the heart of it. It means that a gheko can actually get into such intimate contact with the wall that it can tap into van der wald's interaction.