How worms use electricity to jump: Nature is surprising
Have you ever wondered how some worms can jump without having any limbs?
It turns out that they use electricity to jump, a new study claims.
Let's find out more!
Nature is surprising
In a recent study published in Current Biology, researchers discovered that tiny Caenorhabditis elegans worms can use electric fields to propel themselves across surfaces and attach to larger organisms like bumblebees.
This phenomenon mimics the behavior of smaller creatures hitching rides on larger ones to conserve energy during long migrations.
The researchers found that insects and hummingbirds, which act as pollinators, carry an electric charge, and it is believed that this charge attracts pollen.
The team initially observed the worms spontaneously ending up on the lids of Petri dishes, leading them to investigate this behavior further.
Using a camera, they observed that the worms were actually jumping from the bottom of the dish to the top, suggesting their movement was facilitated by electric fields.
When placed on a glass electrode, the worms only jumped when a charge was applied.
They reached an average speed of .86 meters per second and could leap onto another electrode.
Some worms even formed columns, carrying multiple worms across the gap.
The specific mechanism behind this behavior is still unclear, but genetic factors likely play a role.
Further research is necessary to understand the genes involved and explore if other microorganisms possess similar abilities to use electricity for jumping.
