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Health & Science5h 10m ago

A new study published in Science suggests the Venus flytrap's rapid closing mechanism is due to rapid cell wall softening, not water flow.

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France, Chile

Who
Yoël Forterre, Jacques Dumais, researchers at Aix-Marseelle University and Adolfo Ibáñez University
What
A new study published in Science suggests the Venus flytrap's rapid closing mechanism is due to rapid cell wall softening, not water flow.
When
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:11:47 GMT · 5h 10m ago
Where
France, Chile ·
Why
The carnivorous plant's snap closure mechanism has baffled scientists for decades, prompting new research to understand how it works.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This new understanding of the Venus flytrap's rapid closure challenges previous theories and could inspire new muscle-free, bioinspired actuation technologies.

Story chain

5 events in this thread
  1. Health & Science3h 1m ago
    A study published Thursday in Science found that Venus flytraps begin their closing motion by quickly softening the cell walls lining their outer epidermis.
    Open article
  2. Currently Reading5h 10m ago
    A new study published in Science suggests the Venus flytrap's rapid closing mechanism is due to rapid cell wall softening, not water flow.
  3. Health & Science5h 10m ago
    A new study in the journal Science suggests that the Venus flytrap's rapid closure is due to the rapid softening of outer epidermal cell walls, not water transport.
    Open article
  4. Health & Science5h 10m ago
    A new study published in the journal Science offers an explanation for how the carnivorous Venus flytrap shuts, suggesting rapid cell wall softening rather than water flow.
    Open article
  5. Health & Science5h 10m ago
    A new study published in the journal Science offers an explanation for the Venus flytrap's rapid closing mechanism, debunking the long-held theory that water flow is responsible.
    Open article

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