The Brachinus crepitans, or bombardier beetle, measures just 2 cm but wields a powerful chemical defense. When threatened, it mixes hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide inside its abdomen, triggering an exothermic reaction that reaches 100 °C. It ejects bursts of corrosive benzoquinones at 500 pulses per second, burning and repelling predators. This precise, repeatable mechanism has inspired research into reigniting gas turbines in aircraft under extreme conditions as low as –50 °C. Its internal valve and chamber system is now studied in chemical engineering and advanced biomimicry.
GET BOMBADEERED, IDIOT
Submitted 14 hours ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to science_memes@mander.xyz
https://mander.xyz/pictrs/image/3bc1fa49-c4b0-4c1f-b5e0-ec8a5a52e659.jpeg
Comments
mectag@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
nailbar@sopuli.xyz 1 hour ago
Heh, it sprays its own head with it. Still some space for improvement.
BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Makes it’s own peroxide. That’s sort of hard core.
archonet@lemy.lol 13 hours ago
And uses that peroxide to crap explosions at things. Extremely hardcore.
Fetus@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Big deal, I have explosive craps all the time.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
You know I should have had the doctor put a spark plug in when he built me an artifical ass
tetris11@lemmy.ml 14 hours ago
How the hell did they not evolve wings and reach mach 5
Deceptichum@quokk.au 13 hours ago
They started with wings and the survivors soon ditched them.
tetris11@lemmy.ml 4 hours ago
cowards!
gwilikers@lemmy.ml 6 hours ago
Has anyone been hit by one of these guys?
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
I’m sure someone has. Not me tho
Bunbury@feddit.nl 5 hours ago
At the very least the person the finger in the stock image belongs to
tenchiken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 hours ago
If y’all have not seen The Oatmeal’s bit that includes a great piece on the bombadeer beetle, it’s a treat:
GOD made that butthole!
brem@sh.itjust.works 7 hours ago
According to this theory, every action that I take in this body is a direct result of evolution; which: according to my research on humans . Is entirely correct.
NONE_dc@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
How does it survives to its own attack?
scytale@piefed.zip 14 hours ago
Simple, it ducks before it shoots, like in the picture. ez
TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
What kind of spice has it eaten?
Coolbeanschilly@lemmy.ca 14 hours ago
This beetle is the natural equivalent of passing Taco Bell while listening to Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”.
Floodedwomb@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
Benzo Quinones is my favorite Tejano artist.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
La Benzo Quinta Inn
ValarieLenin@midwest.social 13 hours ago
Wish I could come up with a spicy food joke.
AtariDump@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
You can do it! I believe in you!
tenchiken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 hours ago
Bear down, it’ll sting but it’s totally worth it of you survive.
IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
not impressive, i can have explosive diarrhea and blow up the toilet as well
General_Effort@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
“Help him, help him,” Dobbs was sobbing. “Help him, help him.”
“Help who? Help who?” Yossarian called back. “Help who?”
“The bombardier, the bombardier,” Dobbs cried. “He doesn’t answer. Help the bombardier, help the bombardier.”
“I’m the bombardier,” Yossarian cried back at him. “I’m the bombardier. I’m all right. I’m all right.”
“Then help him, help him,” Dobbs wept. “Help him, help him.”
BodilessGaze@sh.itjust.works 12 hours ago
Where are the Snowdens of yesteryear?
General_Effort@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
Spilled the secret on the flight to Avignon. Today’s Snowdens have it easier. They spill less unpleasant secrets, too.
btbt@hexbear.net 11 hours ago
setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
I’m from Buenos Aires, and I say kill 'em all.
dohpaz42@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Starship Troopers: I’m doing my part
mortemtyrannis@lemmy.ml 7 hours ago
I’d like to know more.
Mothra@mander.xyz 9 hours ago
I’m from Buenos Aires and didn’t know about the existence of this meme
TIL
Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 4 hours ago
You should watch Starship Troopers.