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Latch, load and release: Elastic motion makes click beetles click, study finds

Researchers studied the forces behind click beetles' signature clicking maneuver, discovering that they utilize snap-buckling and elastic recoil to release energy. The study provides insights into extreme motion, energy storage, and release in small animals like trap-jaw ants and mantis shrimps.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 18, 2021

The cosmic commute towards star and planet formation

Researchers measured gas motions throughout the Milky Way and a nearby galaxy, finding that cold molecular gas motions appear to fluctuate in velocity, reminiscent of ocean waves. The team discovered that equidistantly spaced structure shows distinctive pattern, with periodic spacing likely resulting from gravitational instability.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 7, 2020

How do fish and birds hang together without colliding? Researchers find the answer is a wake with purpose

Fish and birds are able to move in groups without separating or colliding due to the interaction of followers with their leader's wake. This phenomenon allows slower followers to keep up with faster-flapping leaders by surfing on their wake, enabling efficient energy harvesting from natural resources.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 28, 2019

A catalytic flying carpet

Researchers at Pitt develop a two-dimensional, shape-changing sheet that wraps, flaps and creeps in a reactant-filled fluid. The team introduces a coating of catalysts on the flexible sheet, initiating motion and reconfiguration through catalytic chemical reactions.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 2, 2019

New tools reveal prelude to chaos

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis developed mathematical tools that determine when randomness emerges in stochastic systems, describing the kinetics before dissolving into randomness. The tools have potential to predict onset of chaos in nanoparticles to checking accounts.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalPhysical Review E·DateJun 6, 2018

When nuclei catch up with electrons

Researchers at ETH Zurich found that ionization delays in molecules can significantly depend on the kinetic energy of both the photoelectron and the nuclei. This study extends the concept of ionization delays introduced for atomic systems, showing that variations can be as large as those with electronic kinetic energy.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 16, 2018

Curious properties

Theoretical physicists analyze flocking behavior on curved surfaces, including a sphere and an hourglass-shaped figure called a catenoid. They found special sound modes that don't dissipate and flow around obstacles, with the sphere's bands centered on the equator.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhysical Review X·DateSep 7, 2017

Locked movement in molecular motor and rotor

Researchers at University of Groningen create light-driven rotary motor with locked movement, where naphthalene rotor synchronizes with motor rotation. This breakthrough demonstrates synchronization of movement in artificial systems, a fundamental step towards molecular machine development.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalScience·DateJun 1, 2017

Breaking Newton's Law

A quantum particle oscillates back and forth when interacting with a gas of Cesium atoms at extremely low temperatures. This behavior challenges Newton's laws of motion, as the particle's motion is restricted to the direction of the tubes.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience·DateJun 1, 2017

Bursting pods

Researchers design a pod-like casing with liquid-crystal elastomers and molecular switches, demonstrating the ability to produce powerful movement at the molecular level. The device uses light-triggered re-arrangement of molecular switches to drive twisting helices in opposing directions, resulting in the bursting of the casing.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 15, 2017

Creeping gel

A new type of gel has been developed that periodically swells and shrinks to model the waves of muscular contraction and relaxation involved in crawling. The gel responds to light, producing two types of crawling motion, similar to those used by land snails, earthworms, and limpets.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 24, 2016

Minimalist swimming microrobots

Researchers at Drexel University have developed a fabrication method for swimming microrobots using just two conjoined microparticles coated with magnetic debris. The microswimmers can be controlled by an external magnetic field, allowing for control over speed and direction.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 19, 2016