Shrimp claw inspires new method of underwater plasma generation
Texas A&M University researchers are looking to nature for inspiration in developing a new method of underwater plasma generation, using shrimp as a model -- a discovery which could provide significant improvements for actions ranging from water sterilization to drilling. In nature, shrimp use a cavitation bubble -- which generates plasma at upwards of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit -- as a weapon to generate shocks and stun their prey. A scaled-up version of the shrimp's mechanism could be used for a broad range of disciplines, including analytical chemistry, physics and material processing.
Provided by Texas A&M University