Shape and symmetry help determine where a leaf lands — and if the tree it came from can recoup the leaf’s carbon as it decomposes.

(Article by Rohini Subrahmanyam originally published by Knowable Magazine) As the microscopic, tear-shaped Lacrymaria olor  swims around hunting for food, it does something remarkable: In a blink, the tiny protist extends its neck more than 30 times its body length, snatching up unwitting prey. Then, just as quickly, the neck withdraws, returning to its original […] The post Animal Origami: The Physics of Nature’s Folds – and How Technology is Adapting Them appeared first on Good News Network.

Phantom crane flies change the angle of their splayed legs to increase or reduce drag, helping them navigate varying winds.

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Chimpanzees select materials for tools based on flexibility, revealing early engineering instincts linked to human tool evolution. A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the School of Anthropology...