How did evolution discover the van der Waals force so a gecko can climb up smooth surfaces?

Question

always a smart alec to throw in religion.

Please is there a real answer to this question?

Answer 1

Evolution is not a thing.  It does not "discover" stuff.  You sound like a run of the mill bibleist.

Answer 2

"Discover" implies some kind of intelligence or motivation where there is none. Accidentally, a mutation provided some extra surface area at the ends of the gecko's fingers which, also accidentally, allowed it greater traction due to this effect. That's it. Easy.

Answer 3

it did not discover it. God, the creator of the universe, created it.