Thursday, March 02, 2023

Insect Uses "Superpropulsion" for Urination



Wouldn't it be cool to be granted a super power? But then you find out that power of "superpropulsion" is the ability to fling drops of urine at high speeds. The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a kind of leafhopper and an agricultural pest. It sucks fluids out of plants. Since the sap is 95% water, they drink a lot to get the nutrients they need, and have to expel a lot of water. Lucky for them, they have an anal catapult that expels a drop of water, and when it reaches a certain size, flings it away with a lot of force for a tiny insect. The physics and fluid dynamics of this pee-shooter are explained at Ars Technica. (via Fark) https://www.fark.com/comments/12770526/Too-cute-for-words-this-anally-catapulting-pee-bubble-glassy-winged-sharpshooter-is


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