The “jaws” of a Venus flytrap hooked up to a robotic arm
Wenlong Li
Venus flytraps might be tricked into snapping shut on command, researchers have proven, successfully turning them into organic robots that may be managed wirelessly.
The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant that catches its prey, reminiscent of flies, by snapping its round leaves shut round it. The leaves’ edges are studded with skinny hairs that generate electrical impulses when an insect touches them – this burst of electrical energy causes the entice to shut in as little as 0.1 seconds. …