
Record-Breaking Robot Highlights How Animals Excel at Jumping
The Quanta Podcast
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How to Jump to a Height of a Half Meter
As animals get smaller, their legs are in contact with the ground for less time during a jump. This means they need to be able to release energy quickly and explosively. Nature came up with a creative solution: biological springs that work like chamobines. When snapping back to their original length, springs can release that stored energy much faster than muscles could.
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