How geckos stay clean

Do you ever think it would be cool if you could walk through dusty streets in summer and not need to clean yourself or your shoes afterward? Then you should trying being a gecko in your next life.

The little reptiles are already a walking collection of cool features, and now researchers have discovered a new one to add to the list - namely gecko skin's self-cleaning mechanism.

Geckos have been widely studied for the tiny hairs on their feet that are so sticky, they allow the reptiles to climb vertical glass surfaces, for example. In an almost regrettable tone, the Australian researchers from James Cook University in Queensland behind the new study note in their introduction "the remaining regions of the lizard body received very little attention." So it seems an investigation into what other magical properties the scaly animal's skin might be hiding was long overdue.

Study reveals popcorn-like mechanism

The study, entitled "Removal mechanisms of dew via self-propulsion off the gecko skin," found little water-droplets that form via condensation on the gecko’s surface autonomously jump like popcorn off the animal’s skin as they merge and release energy - taking all the dirt and dust with them.

Until now, similar so-called "propulsion" mechanisms had only been observed in insect wings, which like gecko skin are covered in tiny hair-like spines that appear to help the self-cleaning processes.

The main advantage of the propulsion mechanism for insects is that their wings have to stay dry to function properly. And it seems it may have other advantages for the little lizards too. As microorganisms like bacteria thrive in humid conditions, propulsion may also help prevent infections.

Researchers are now looking into possible applications of the mechanism for marine-based electronics.