In a photo taken on June 16, 2017 a chemical engineering student looks at a microscope image of a strip of ahesive inspired by octopus suction cups, at his laboratory at the Sung Kyun Kwan university outside Seoul.
The clinging power of octopus tentacles has inspired a breakthrough new adhesive patch that works on wet and oily surfaces with potentially huge medical and industrial uses, South Korean researchers told AFP. The team found the octopuses&#039; impressive suction power was thanks to small balls inside the suction cups that line each of their tentacles. The new &quot;wet-tolerant&quot; adhesive patch has been hailed as a breakthrough by the country&#039;s science and technology ministry and there are hopes it will be able to be used for everything from heavy industry to dressing wounds.
 / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONES