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Researchers are unraveling the mystery of a special type of beetle with an incredibly tough exoskeleton capable of withstanding extreme pressures up to 39,000 times its weight. Plus, it has one of the coolest names in the animal kingdom that perfectly describes it: the devilish armored beetle.
This bug can survive being hit by a car before it cracks. Scientists believe the insect’s tough exoskeleton could inspire breakthroughs in the manufacture of high-strength materials, BGR reported.
(Photo: YouTube)
Armored Devil Beetle: Unlocking the Secrets of Its Super-Rugged Design YouTube Screenshot / Purdue Engineering
The diabolical armored beetle
Just from the name of the diabolical armored beetle, it already suggests that the bug is really hard. It is an essential feature of all kinds of errors, as they must always be on the lookout for any potential damage.
For example, humans pose one of the biggest threats to insects due to pesticides that can kill an entire population, or if it doesn’t work, they can always use their feet or cars to block these insects.
But the evil armored beetle doesn’t mind being trampled by a human shoe or run over by a car because they can withstand the pressure, according to a new study by a team at Purdue University and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) published in Nature. .
The study described how the Beetle could withstand 39,000 times its weight or roughly 150 newtons of force more than the force of typical cars, which is only 100 newtons of force.
Lead author David Kisailus, a professor of materials science and engineering at UCI, said that while the battleship is not light and fast, it is built more like a tank, which is its adaptation because it couldn’t fly. His armor serves as protection against any predator.
Read also: WATCH: Beetle survives death even after being eaten by a frog
What makes the evil armored beetle so resistant?
According to the researchers, the insect’s shell has evolved to protect it. In particular, the battleship’s blade, called elytra, is fused together to act as a solid shield as it cannot fly.
An analysis revealed that it is made of thin layers of chitin and that the insect’s exoskeleton is made up of 10% more protein than the lighter beetles. Chitin’s puzzle structure doesn’t break when put under pressure because it only fractures slowly, according to CBS News.
“When you break a piece of a puzzle, you expect it to separate at the neck, the thinnest part,” Kisailus said. But that’s not the case with the diabolical armored beetle because it delaminates, providing a more graceful failure of the structure, he added.
Additionally, Kisalus believes that understanding the devilish armored beetle’s protection mechanism could help humans create novel, extra-strong materials that will enhance the durability of airplanes, cars, and many more.
The researchers replicated the insect’s exoskeleton structure using carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, resulting in a stronger and tougher material than those used in aircraft designs.
In fact, this discovery bridges the gap between physics, mechanics and materials science towards applications in engineering, Kisalius said.
Read more: Scientists create bomb-sniffing lobsters
Check out more insect news and information at Science Times.
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