Spiderman makes it look easy, but sticking to surfaces with enough force to climb them is a challenge at the human scale. These researchers tackled the problem with a new Keep reading
Tag: suction
Holding Fast in the Flow
Many tiny creatures in the natural world face living in fast flows. The larvae of the net-winged midge, for example, forage their way through fast-flowing Alpine springs with speeds of Keep reading
Plant Week: Bladderworts
Carnivorous plants live in nutrient-poor environments, where clever techniques are necessary to keep their prey from getting away. The aquatic bladderwort family nabs their prey through ultra-fast suction. This starts Keep reading
Catching Prey
The skinny, freshwater alligator gar can grow to more than 2 meters in length, giving it a distinct resemblance to its namesake. But this fish’s history traces back more than Keep reading
An Octopus’ Handshake
Cephalopods, especially octopuses, are fascinating creatures. At sea level, an octopus can generate an impressive pressure differential of 1 to 2 atmospheres with each of its suckers. That incredible grip Keep reading
Amphibious Adaptation
Every year newts move to the water in the springtime to mate before returning to land for the rest of the year. This annual aquatic relocation is accompanied by changes Keep reading
Stalling
[original media no longer available] At high angles of attack, the flow around the leading edge of an airfoil can separate from the airfoil, leading to a drastic loss of Keep reading