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submitted 2 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

The Brachinus crepitans, or bombardier beetle, measures just 2 cm but wields a powerful chemical defense. When threatened, it mixes hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide inside its abdomen, triggering an exothermic reaction that reaches 100 °C. It ejects bursts of corrosive benzoquinones at 500 pulses per second, burning and repelling predators. This precise, repeatable mechanism has inspired research into reigniting gas turbines in aircraft under extreme conditions as low as –50 °C. Its internal valve and chamber system is now studied in chemical engineering and advanced biomimicry.

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[-] [email protected] 11 points 2 days ago

Ahh. But have you evolved your tailbone into a pilot light?

[-] [email protected] 11 points 2 days ago

Not yet, ask me again in like a million years.

this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2025
637 points (100.0% liked)

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