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Scientists Crack the Secret of Venus Flytrap's Speed
Newser • • science
Key Points:
- French physicist Yoël Forterre and his team discovered that the Venus flytrap snaps shut due to a rapid 30-40% softening of cells on the trap's outer surface when triggered by an insect.
- This swift change in cell wall stiffness allows the curved leaf to bend closed in under a second, similar to a rubber popper toy flipping inside out.
- The study disproves the previous theory that water swelling inside the leaf causes the snap, as that process is too slow (30-150 seconds) compared to the actual snap time of about 0.1 seconds.
- The findings reveal a unique mechanical control mechanism in the Venus flytrap, showcasing an extreme modification of cell wall properties not observed in other plants.
