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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.

(page 2) 30 comments
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[-] btbt@hexbear.net 3 points 6 days ago

This is what eating beans will do for you beanis

[-] setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 140 points 1 week ago

I'm from Buenos Aires, and I say kill 'em all.

[-] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 81 points 1 week ago

Makes it's own peroxide. That's sort of hard core.

[-] archonet@lemy.lol 64 points 1 week ago

And uses that peroxide to crap explosions at things. Extremely hardcore.

[-] Fetus@lemmy.world 31 points 1 week ago

Big deal, I have explosive craps all the time.

[-] watson387@sopuli.xyz 31 points 1 week ago

Have you ever spray-farted someone's face off?

[-] General_Effort@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago

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

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[-] tetris11@lemmy.ml 62 points 1 week ago

How the hell did they not evolve wings and reach mach 5

[-] Deceptichum@quokk.au 34 points 1 week ago

They started with wings and the survivors soon ditched them.

[-] tetris11@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 days ago
[-] NONE_dc@lemmy.world 42 points 1 week ago

How does it survives to its own attack?

[-] scytale@piefed.zip 50 points 1 week ago

Simple, it ducks before it shoots, like in the picture. ez

[-] Coolbeanschilly@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 week ago

This beetle is the natural equivalent of passing Taco Bell while listening to Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire".

[-] ValarieLenin@midwest.social 11 points 1 week ago

Wish I could come up with a spicy food joke.

[-] tenchiken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 days ago

Bear down, it'll sting but it's totally worth it of you survive.

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[-] TrojanRoomCoffeePot@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

not impressive, i can have explosive diarrhea and blow up the toilet as well

[-] General_Effort@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

"Help him, help him," Dobbs was sobbing. "Help him, help him."

"Help who? Help who?" Yossarian called back. "Help who?"

"The bombardier, the bombardier," Dobbs cried. "He doesn't answer. Help the bombardier, help the bombardier."

"I'm the bombardier," Yossarian cried back at him. "I'm the bombardier. I'm all right. I'm all right."

"Then help him, help him," Dobbs wept. "Help him, help him."

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this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2025
649 points (98.8% liked)

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