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Health & Science3h 53m ago
Scientists have found the physical mechanism behind the snapping action of Venus flytraps, attributing it to a rapid softening of cell walls in the plant's outer layer.
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Paris, Marseille, North Carolina, South Carolina
Who
physicist Yoël Forterre, physicist Jeongeun Ryu
What
Scientists have found the physical mechanism behind the snapping action of Venus flytraps, attributing it to a rapid softening of cell walls in the plant's outer layer.
When
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:28:46 GMT · 3h 53m ago
Where
Paris, Marseille, North Carolina, South Carolina ·
Why
The research aimed to understand how the Venus flytrap achieves its rapid closure, a question that has puzzled scientists for over a century, including Charles Darwin.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
This discovery provides new insight into plant movement, moving beyond previous hypotheses involving water redistribution, and offers a novel principle that could inspire future developments in soft robotics or smart materials.
Story chain
4 events in this thread- Health & Science3h 53m agoScientists have found the physical mechanism behind the snapping action of Venus flytraps, initiating closure by rapid softening of cell walls in the outer layer of the plant’s trap.Open article
- Health & Science3h 53m agoScientists have now found the physical mechanism behind the snapping action of Venus flytraps, which involves a rapid softening of the cell walls in the plant’s outer layer.Open article
- Currently Reading3h 53m agoScientists have found the physical mechanism behind the snapping action of Venus flytraps, attributing it to a rapid softening of cell walls in the plant's outer layer.
- Health & Science3h 53m agoScientists have discovered that the Venus flytrap’s closure is initiated by a rapid softening of cell walls in the outer layer of the plant’s trap, rather than rapid water redistribution.Open article