IT'S 'super glue' – but not as you know it, Jim.

Scientists at Glasgow University's Institute for Gravitational Research have cleared a new space mission for launch after inventing a super strong and super sensitive silicate bonding material.

And it puts the city at the forefront of space research since the special glue is being used to attach detectors to measure gravitational waves created by violent astronomical events, such as the collision of black holes and dying stars.

The glue is being used to fix an intricate optical bench on the LISA Pathfinder, which is to be fired into space by the European Space Agency (ESA).

A university spokesman said: "Extreme precision is required to detect the tiny ripples in the fabric of space and time predicted by Albert Einstein.

"A direct detection of gravitational waves will add a new sense to our perception of the Universe."

The successful testing of the Glasgow glue is a significant step according to the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, which is partly funding the project.

Dr Christian Killow, an advanced fellow of the Alliance, said: "We are really excited that the LISA Pathfinder mission is well positioned for launch in 2015."

The optical bench has now been sent to Germany, but only after scientists at Glasgow proved that their glue would keep steady the sensor system during the rocket's launch.