From geckos to gum: The science of stickiness

Stickiness. We know it when we see it — or when we feel it under our feet at the movie theater. But what is stickiness, scientifically speaking?

How do geckos climb? Why don’t Post-it Notes ruin our books?

This hour, we talk to scientist Laurie Winkless about her book, Sticky, and figure out what holds it all together.

GUESTS:

• Laurie Winkless: A science writer and physicist and the author of Sticky: The Secret Science of the Surfaces
• Dr. Alyssa Stark: A professor at Villanova University; she runs a lab that studies biological adhesion
• Will Coldwell: A freelance writer; he published “Bursting the Bubble: How Gum Lost Its Cool” in The Economist

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, Cat Pastor, and Lily Tyson contributed to this show, which originally aired February 17, 2022.

Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.