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The appendage of the mantis shrimp strikes with a tremendous amount of force enhanced by cavitation bubbles.

Light intensity concentrates hormones that alter the water levels in cells causing plants to bend toward the light source.

Hummingbirds produce lift and sound on both the downstroke and upstroke of their wingbeats, creating a steady musical hum instead of the pulsing whoosh of larger birds.

Honeybees generate heat to mold cylindrical wax cells, then surface tension pulls the cooling wax into hexagons.

Spiders turn liquid into a strong, stretchy fiber by squeezing it through a small space that helps protein molecules to connect with each other.

The bigger barbules and higher number of microscopic prongs on the down of eider ducks trap more heat than other feathers.

The seed heads of sunflowers optimize the packing of seeds by growing florets in a spiraling pattern connected to the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence.

Long scales on the underhair of otters and fur seals trap air to retain heat and prevent water penetration.