Free-floating guts in caterpillars act like pistons helping the insects move. Researchers say this newly described form of locomotion, dubbed 'gut sliding,' could aid in the design of soft-bodied robots. Jorge Ribas reports.
More Videos Online
More Videos Online
Animals: Caterpillars 'Gut Slide' to Get Around
Free-floating guts in caterpillars act like pistons helping the insects move. Researchers say this newly described form of locomotion, dubbed 'gut sliding,' could aid in the design of soft-bodied robots. Jorge Ribas reports.
Added: Jul 22, 2010
Views: 25984 Views
Runtime: 01:40
Related Videos
-
Cats Drink Differently Than...The difference between dogs and cats just widened, as scientists have found that the two animals drink liquids using entirely different methods. Dogs use a plunk and scoop method while cats delicately lap liquids with only the tip.Animals (02:12)
-
Flea Jump Mystery SolvedForty-four years after the debate about how fleas jump began, researchers say they've solved the mystery thanks to high-speed cameras that show the insects pushing off with their toes rather than with their knees. Jorge Ribas reports.
Animals (01:05)
-
Giant Prickly Stick InsectLooking more like a dead leaf than a stick, the Giant Prickly Stick Insect is a master of camouflage. Jorge Ribas visits the Smithsonian's National Zoo to see the huge bug up close.
Animals (02:11)
-
Termites Ready Invasion as Ice...As winter melts into spring, experts warn to be on the look out for termites, which are on the hunt for wet wood. Jorge Ribas finds out how to look for signs of these insatiable insects, and how to protect your house from infestation.
Animals (02:50)
-
Cat Living in Tree ExplainedBorn in a tree, Almond the Cat now makes it her home. To find out if the cat will ever come down, Jorge Ribas talks to an expert in animal behavior.
Animals (01:42)
-
New Species Discovered in...More than 200 new species of insects, amphibians and mammals were recently found in the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. So how were all these animals discovered? Conservation International scientists explain their techniques.
Animals (03:24)
-
Zoo's DNA Lab Cracks Cases...Researchers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's new genetics lab use animal DNA to diagnose new diseases, help in conservation efforts and solve mysteries. Jorge Ribas goes inside.
Animals (02:02)
-
Japanese Giant SalamanderAt more than five feet long, the Japanese Giant Salamander is one of the largest amphibians in the world. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, biologists hope to breed the animals for the first time outside of Japan.
Animals (02:51)
-
Ticks: Bloodsucking Ninjas of...Summertime means being outside, and being outside means watching out for ticks. The bloodsucking parasites transmit illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Jorge Ribas gets tips on how to avoid them.
Animals (03:16)
-
Frog Tadpoles Scream...Researchers report that Argentine horned frog tadpoles produce 'screams' when in distress. It's the first time ever that vertebrate larvae have been heard using sound to communicate underwater. Jorge Ribas reports.
Animals (00:48)
-
Octopus Mimics FlounderNew video shows an octopus disguising itself as a flounder. Marine Biological Laboratory senior scientist Roger Hanlon talks to James Williams about the eight-legged impersonator.
Animals (01:44)
-
X-Ray Vision Shows Dino-Era...Using high energy X-rays, scientists have discovered fossilized bugs and dinosaur feathers in opaque amber from the Mid-Cretaceous era.
Animals (01:02)
You Might Also Like
-
Top 10 Grossest, Coolest,...Discovery News says goodbye to 2010 with a rundown of our top 10 grossest, coolest and weirdest videos: Everything from screaming tadpoles and flying snakes to fire tornados and glowing lava pools.
Earth (01:59)
-
Robot Gripper Picks Up...The rubber stress ball on your desk could usher in the next generation of robotic grippers. Researchers have built a gripper using a rubber membrane filled with everyday materials that can pick up anything from an egg to a glass of water.
Tech (00:54)
-
Man Controls Robotic Hand with...For a month, Pierpaolo Petruzziello's amputated arm was connected to a robotic limb, allowing him to feel sensations and control the arm with his thoughts. Rossella Lorenzi talks to him about the bionic experiment.
Tech (02:52)
-
Snowflakes Simulated in 3-DMathematicians have created the first accurate 3-D simulations of snowflakes. James Williams takes a look.
Tech (00:51)
-
Exoskeleton Helps Student Walk...Four years after being paralyzed in a car accident, UC Berkeley graduate Austin Whitney was able to walk again thanks to a new robotic exoskeleton. Jorge Ribas finds out how it works.
Tech (02:14)
-
Tron Legacy: Living in a...Social media websites, online gaming, and ubiquitous mobile technology: Who's to say we're not already living in a virtual landscape like the one depicted in Tron: Legacy? Jorge Ribas talks to the film's cast and crew to get their take.
Tech (02:43)
-
NASA's Puffin: Your Personal...Engineers from the NASA Langley Research Center unveiled plans to build a personal flying machine that would run on a set of electric motors. Jorge Ribas reports on the aptly named Puffin, which is still in the early stages of development.
Tech (01:55)
-
Avatar: 3-D Delivers Depth,...Rather than relying on classic 3-D tricks to make the audience jump, Avatar director James Cameron wanted to use the technology to give depth to the world he created. Jorge Ribas finds out how the camera works.
Tech (02:28)
-
Maglev TrainsThe fastest trains ever built are turning hour-long, traffic-jammed commutes into futuristic joyrides. So when can we expect a maglev train here in the United States? Jorge Ribas finds out.
Tech (03:09)
-
Holographic TVTelevision's gone from black and white to color to high definition. So is 3-D holographic TV next? Jorge Ribas finds out.
Tech (02:52)
-
Innovation Hits the RoadDashboards that recognize your face, cameras that count the cars on the road... find out what else Jorge Ribas saw at the World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems.
Tech (02:39)
-
New Species Thrive in MekongThe Mekong region in Southeast Asia is home to more than a thousand new plant and animal species, says the World Wildlife Fund. But challenges are ahead in balancing conservation and growth. Jorge Ribas reports.
Earth (03:03)
Advertisement
News Headlines
- Man-Eating Leopard Stalks Village
- Concordia Wreck at Risk of Collapse, Spilling
- How The Zebra Got Its Stripes
- Ice-Breakers Battle Europe's Big Chill
- Hungry Black Hole Snacking on Asteroids?
- Dogs Really Do Understand Us Best
- Fatal Shark Attacks Spike in 2011
- Presidents and Their Mistresses: Who Cares?
- Ship Noise Boosts Stress in Whales
- Does Online Dating Work? Yes and No
Shop Discovery News
Feeding Frenzy DVD
$19.95
$14.99
Return to Penguin City DVD
$19.95
$16.99
Gettysburg: The Battle and The Address DVD
$19.95
$14.99
-
our sites
-
video
-
shop
-
stay connected
-
corporate
comments ( )