????壁虎膠帶

??? 自然界是科技創新最可靠的靈感來源之一。作為五角大樓的科研主要力量，美國國防部高級研究計劃局（Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency，DARPA）深諳這個道理。去年DARPA推出了一款外形像蜂鳥的無人偵查機，它甚至可以停在窗臺上收集情報。

????普通老百姓要想買到屬于自己的蜂鳥偵察機也許還很遙遠。不過可能過不了多久，我們就能買到一款模仿壁虎腳研制的產品了。這種產品叫做“壁虎皮”（Geckskin），是一種超強吸力的粘合劑。它由馬薩諸塞州的一支科學家團隊發明。如同其它重大仿生學項目一樣，它也是由DARPA資助的。

????與其它DARPA項目不同的是，壁虎皮在不久的將來就可用于多種非間諜性的居民日常活動。比如，只需一張索引卡片大小的壁虎皮，就能牢牢固定700磅重的物體。也就是說，不需要對墻壁造成任何損害，就可以把一個大屏幕的平板電視掛在墻上，日后把電視移走時，也不會留下任何痕跡。

????“這是一項很了不起的發明，并不僅僅由于它的古怪和實用，還由于它是一系列科技創新的早期信號，”湯姆奇科說。“未來幾年里，我們會看見更多仿生學科研成果轉化為商業產品和應用的例子。”

????Gecko tape

????The natural world is one of the most reliable resources for tech inspiration. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the Pentagon's research arm, is well aware of this. Just last year, it rolled out a new version of a hummingbird-shaped spy drone that can even perch on windowsills to collect information.

????But long before the general consumer can purchase his or her own mechanical avian espionage unit, civilians should be able to buy a product inspired by the footpad of a Gecko. The product, called Geckskin, is a super-strong adhesive. Geckskin was discovered by a team of scientists at the University of Massachusetts and, like other major biomimicry projects, it was funded by DARPA.

????Unlike other DARPA projects, Geckskin could have more immediate uses for your everyday non-spy. For example, an index-card-size piece of Geckskin should support up to 700 pounds. That's enough might to secure large-screen televisions to a wall without damaging it or leaving residue after it's removed.

????"This is cool not just because it is quirky and functional but because this is an early signal of things to come," says Tomczyk. "In the next few years, we will see more examples of commercial products and applications that replicate nature. "