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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) 29 comments
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[-] ValarieLenin@midwest.social 11 points 4 days ago

Wish I could come up with a spicy food joke.

[-] AtariDump@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

You can do it! I believe in you!

[-] tenchiken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 days ago

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

[-] TrojanRoomCoffeePot@lemmy.world 10 points 4 days ago
[-] Jamablaya@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

BOMBADEER? fuckinng western Canadian spotted.

[-] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

What kind of spice has it eaten?

[-] Floodedwomb@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

Benzo Quinones is my favorite Tejano artist.

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

La Benzo Quinta Inn

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

[-] General_Effort@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days 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."

[-] BodilessGaze@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 days ago

Where are the Snowdens of yesteryear?

[-] General_Effort@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Spilled the secret on the flight to Avignon. Today's Snowdens have it easier. They spill less unpleasant secrets, too.

[-] btbt@hexbear.net 3 points 4 days ago

This is what eating beans will do for you beanis

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

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