Topic description and stories

Cog wheels connecting the hind legs of the plant hopper, Issus

Functioning ‘mechanical gears’ seen in nature for the first time

12 Sep 2013

Previously believed to be only man-made, a natural example of a functioning gear mechanism has been discovered in a common insect - showing that...

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N. Gracilis

Pitcher plant uses rain drops to capture prey

14 Jun 2012

Researchers discover novel trapping mechanism for Nepenthes gracilis pitchers.

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Flea jumping

Mystery of how fleas jump resolved

21 Mar 2011

New research from the University of Cambridge sheds light on how fleas jump, reaching speeds as fast as 1.9 meters per second.

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