7 Cool Science Stories You Might Have Missed
â–¼ Summary
– The article introduces a new monthly collection of notable science stories, including diverse topics like a fossilized bird, a supernova, and kangaroo biomechanics.
– Kangaroos and wallabies are macropods with a unique movement style, using all limbs and tail at slow speeds and hopping at high speeds.
– Unlike most animals, kangaroos’ high-speed hopping is not more energy-intensive than their slow movement, a phenomenon the study sought to explain.
– Research using 3D modeling found that kangaroos adopt a more crouched hindlimb posture while hopping, with the ankle joint doing most of the work.
– This crouching posture increases energy absorption during hopping, which improves movement efficiency and helps uncouple speed from energy cost.
The world of science constantly produces fascinating discoveries, but many remarkable stories fly under the public radar. From ancient artifacts to cosmic explosions and biomechanical mysteries, researchers are uncovering details that reshape our understanding of history, nature, and the universe itself. This collection highlights several intriguing findings that emerged recently, each offering a unique glimpse into ongoing scientific exploration.
One particularly compelling study examines the unique biomechanics of kangaroo movement. Kangaroos and wallabies, known as macropods, move in a way that defies typical energy rules. While most animals use more energy when moving faster, these marsupials become more efficient during high-speed hops. Research published in the journal eLife suggests this counterintuitive phenomenon is linked to changes in posture. Scientists used 3D motion capture and force plate data to build musculoskeletal models of red and grey kangaroos. Their analysis focused on how body mass and speed affect hindlimb posture, movement efficiency, tendon stress, and ankle function during hopping.
The results were revealing. At higher speeds, kangaroos adopt a more crouched posture with their hindlimbs. This position shifts the bulk of the work to the ankle joint with each hop. The crouch itself enhances energy absorption, which in turn improves overall locomotor efficiency. Essentially, the animal’s anatomy and adjusted stance work in concert to make bounding across the landscape an energetically economical affair, explaining why hopping is their preferred gait for rapid travel.
(Source: Ars Technica)