We look at this interesting take on all things sticky by physicist and science writer, Laurie Winkless, published by Bloomsbury, see more here.
This book is fun, and the things you wondered might appear in it, like those famous gecko paws(?) appear in it too. How do they do what they do, why are they better on smoother surfaces than microscopically small rough surfaces? Winkless takes us on a fun and thoughtful provoking tour of all things sticky.
The scope of this book is quite wide, and almost eclectic at times, but then again why not have a broader approach to this area. You learn more by looking at things from a wider perspective as well as deep dives into specific areas. Who knows what future breakthroughs and insights this book may yet inspire! A good read, and a fun possible stocking filler for the scientist in your life this xmas?
More about the book
You are surrounded by stickiness. With every step you take, air molecules cling to you and slow you down; the effect is harder to ignore in water. When you hit the road, whether powered by pedal or engine, you rely on grip to keep you safe. The Post-it note and glue in your desk drawer. The non-stick pan on your stove. The fingerprints linked to your identity. The rumbling of the Earth deep beneath your feet, and the ice that transforms waterways each winter. All of these things are controlled by tiny forces that operate on and between surfaces, with friction playing the leading role.
In Sticky, Laurie Winkless explores some of the ways that friction shapes both the manufactured and natural worlds, and describes how our understanding of surface science has given us an ability to manipulate stickiness, down to the level of a single atom. But this apparent success doesn’t tell the whole story. Each time humanity has pushed the boundaries of science and engineering, we’ve discovered that friction still has a few surprises up its sleeve.
So do we really understand this force? Can we say with certainty that we know how a gecko climbs, what’s behind our sense of touch, or why golf balls, boats and aircraft move as they do? Join Laurie as she seeks out the answers from experts scattered across the globe, uncovering a stack of scientific mysteries along the way.
Laurie Winkless is an Irish physicist-turned-science-writer, currently based in New Zealand. After her post-grad, she joined the UK’s National Physical Laboratory as a research scientist, where she specialised in functional materials. She is an experienced science communicator, who loves talking about science in all forms of media. Since leaving the lab, Laurie has worked with scientific organisations, engineering companies, universities, and astronauts, amongst others. Her writing has featured in outlets including Forbes, Wired, Esquire, and TheEconomist, and her first book, Science and the City, was published by Bloomsbury Sigma in 2016. This was followed by STICKY, her exploration of friction and surface science, in 2021.
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