this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2025
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Science Memes

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GET BOMBADEERED, IDIOT (infosec.pub)
submitted 2 days ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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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.

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[–] MeatPilot@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

For a good read, look for "For the Love of Insects" by Thomas Eisner who studied the bombardier beetle. The book doesn't focus on bombardier beetles. But he does go over how he made some discovers on the bombardier beetle.

Eisner was a wonderful scientist with a fascinating perspective.