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Health & Science4h 0m ago
Scientists have found the physical mechanism behind the Venus flytrap's snapping action, revealing its closure is initiated by rapid softening of cell walls in the outer layer of the plant.
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Marseille, North Carolina, South Carolina, United States
Who
Yoël Forterre, Jeongeun Ryu, French research agency CNRS, Aix-Marseille University
What
Scientists have found the physical mechanism behind the Venus flytrap's snapping action, revealing its closure is initiated by rapid softening of cell walls in the outer layer of the plant.
When
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:19:47 GMT · 4h 0m ago
Where
Marseille, North Carolina, South Carolina, United States ·
Why
After more than a century of research, new experiments showed the Venus flytrap uses a rapid softening of cell walls to close, rather than redistribution of water, solving a long-standing scientific question.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
This discovery settles a scientific question going back to Charles Darwin regarding one of the fastest movements in the plant kingdom, and identifies a new biological principle that could inspire future soft robots or smart materials.
Story chain
2 events in this thread- Health & Science4h 0m agoScientists have found that the Venus flytrap's closure is initiated by a rapid softening of the cell walls in the outer layer of the plant’s trap.Open article
- Currently Reading4h 0m agoScientists have found the physical mechanism behind the Venus flytrap's snapping action, revealing its closure is initiated by rapid softening of cell walls in the outer layer of the plant.