Science Friday How A Woodpecker Pecks Wood, And How Ants Crown A Queen
Nov 17, 2025
Dr. Nick Antonson, a postdoctoral research fellow studying extreme animal behaviors, reveals the fascinating mechanics behind woodpecker pecking that generates forces 20–30 times their body weight. He explains the muscle choreography and rare respiratory adaptations that allow these birds to strike trees without injury. On the ant front, Dr. Daniel Kronauer, a social insect behavior expert, discusses how identical ant eggs can develop into either queens or workers, emphasizing how nutrition and feeding dictate their fate in the colony.
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Whole-Body Power Behind Each Peck
- Woodpeckers deliver strikes equal to 20–30 times their body weight concentrated on a small point.
- The extreme force comes from whole-body coordination rather than just neck strength.
Choreographed Muscle Sequence
- Muscles from head, neck, hips and tail fire in a precise sequence to generate and brace for strikes.
- Tail and hip forces plus abdominal exhalation stabilize and push the body into each hit.
Use Breathing To Boost Force
- Stabilize core and exhale when generating force to increase strike power.
- Coordinate breathing with effort to add measurable power to repeated strikes.