Superheroes have managed it. So too have buddhist monks, ninjas and street performer David Blaine. Now Scottish scientists claim that they too have discovered the secret of levitation.

Superheroes have managed it. So too have buddhist monks, ninjas and street performer David Blaine.

Now Scottish scientists claim that they too have discovered the secret of levitation.

Theoretical physicists at the University of St Andrews have floated a new theory for levitating tiny objects - which has paved the way for applications in the field of nanotechnology.

Their idea is to counteract the force of nature which normally causes objects to stick together by quantum force.

By reversing this phenomenon, known as Casimir force, the scientists hope to solve the problem of tiny objects sticking together in existing novel nano-machines.

Casimir force can be demonstrated in a gecko's ability to stick to a surface with just one toe.

However, it can cause practical problems in nanotechnology, and ways of preventing tiny objects from sticking to each other is the source of much interest.

Professor Ulf Leonhardt and Dr Thomas Philbin of the university's School of Physics and Astronomy believe that they can engineer the Casimir force to cause an object to repel rather than attract another in a vacuum.

Professor Leonhardt said: "The Casimir force is the ultimate cause of friction in the nano-world, in particular in some microelectromechanical systems.

"Such systems already play an important role - for example tiny mechanical devices which triggers a car airbag to inflate or those which power tiny lab on chip' devices used for drugs testing or chemical analysis.

"Micro or nano machines could run smoother and with less or no friction at all if one can manipulate the force."

The pair have worked out how to turn the normally "sticky" quantum force of empty space from attraction to repulsion using a specially developed lens placed between two objects.

"In order to reduce friction in the nanoworld, turning nature's stickiness into repulsion could be the ultimate remedy," said Professor Leonhardt.

"Instead of sticking together, parts of micromachinery would levitate."

Although it is possible in theory for humans to levitate, scientists are a long way off developing the technology for such feats.

"At the moment, in practice, it is only going to be possible for micro-objects with the current technology, since this quantum force is small and acts only at short ranges," said Professor Leonhardt.

"For now, human levitation will remain the subject of cartoons, fairytales and stories of the paranormal."

The research is published in the latest edition of the New Journal of Physics.