An almost uncrushable beetle
The diabolical ironclad beetle can survive being run over by a car and stamped on by a human foot, reports the Associated Press, and now scientists understand what makes this bug nearly indestructible. Found on the West Coast of the U.S., the beetle is protected by body armor that can withstand loads up to 39,000 times the bug’s weight—which is like a 200-pound man surviving a 7.8 million–pound crush. Other beetle species can withstand only a third as much pressure. On examining
the species’ exoskeleton, the researchers found that its armor has more interlocking wing covers than other beetles’, which helps it distribute stress. These covers peel apart when weight is applied in order to ease strain, and are connected to the beetle’s shell with flexible joins that act as shock absorbers. The authors say their findings could help the development of impact-resistant materials for use in planes and buildings. “We’re trying to go beyond what nature has done,” says study co-author David Kisailus, from the University of California, Irvine.