Introduction by Producer Steven Bedard
Science in Nature - Short
Spine Films, bioGraphic
Although tiny, trap-jaw ants (Odontomachus sp.) are awe-inspiring in their own right. With jaws that open a full 180 degrees and span a distance significantly wider than their heads, the ants can strike at the breathtaking speed of 225 kilometers (140 miles) per hour and with a force 300 times the insects’ own weight. In addition to the more conventional functions that jaws perform in other animals, trap-jaw ants employ theirs in a truly novel way: locomotion. Now, researchers are hoping to uncover the physics behind these propulsive ants in order to build cutting-edge microrobots.
- Year2019
- Runtime8 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
Introduction by Producer Steven Bedard
Science in Nature - Short
Spine Films, bioGraphic
Although tiny, trap-jaw ants (Odontomachus sp.) are awe-inspiring in their own right. With jaws that open a full 180 degrees and span a distance significantly wider than their heads, the ants can strike at the breathtaking speed of 225 kilometers (140 miles) per hour and with a force 300 times the insects’ own weight. In addition to the more conventional functions that jaws perform in other animals, trap-jaw ants employ theirs in a truly novel way: locomotion. Now, researchers are hoping to uncover the physics behind these propulsive ants in order to build cutting-edge microrobots.
- Year2019
- Runtime8 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States