Animal News
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Scorpions help scientists to make stronger, tougher machines
The way that scorpions can resist wear and tear from fierce desert sandstorms could help scientists to make longer-lasting machinery.
Sand is incredibly tough, so when it is blown at high speeds by desert winds it can cause a lot of damage. However, the yellow fat-tailed scorpion, Androctonus australis, can survive in harsh desert environments without suffering erosion to its body.
Erosion is a serious problem in industry and can affect everything from pipes and machinery to helicopter rotors and jet engines. Dirt, sand or grit in the air or inside machinery is often responsible.
By using microscopes to study the bodies of several scorpions, scientists found that the creatures have a mixture of tiny bumps and grooves on their backs.
The researchers then used computer models to see how air travels down these grooves. They found that because of the way air flows down the grooves, sand particles are either channelled away from the scorpion’s body, or strike it with much less force than they would if the grooves weren’t there.
What do you think? Leave a comment below to let us know!
Please note: All comments are moderated before they go live.
Offensive comments will not be published.
Did you like this? Why not give it a Thumbs Up!
Give this article a Thumbs Up! by logging in
to your account or registering here.
2 Comments
You must be logged in to your account to add a comment about this article.
MORE NEWS
RESCUED DOLPHINS RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD
NEW JERSEY INTRODUCES TEXTING FINE
SAVE OUR BUTTERFLIES WEEK
PEDALLING POOCH BECOMES INTERNET SENSATION
DO TEENAGE BOOKS PROMOTE SWEARING?
FACEBOOK TO CHANGE AGE RULES?
NHS TO OPEN FIRST DANCE INJURY CLINIC
£80 FINE FOR MESSY DOG-WALKERS
BOY RESCUED FROM 270FT DROP
NEW WOODLAND TO BE ESTABLISHED IN DUMBARTON
OLYMPIC TORCHES AUCTIONED ON EBAY
RARE 'RING OF FIRE' SOLAR ECLIPSE IS SEEN ...




mabli (Age 9) wrote on Thursday, 5 April 2012 @ 07:45
I hate scorpians.
Asfa (Age 10) wrote on Monday, 9 April 2012 @ 12:51
once they pinched me and it hurts