00:00:25
The trunk of the African elephant 00:00:28
00:00:28
is an impressive multitool. 00:00:31
00:00:31
It is both flexible 00:00:34
00:00:34
and strong. 00:00:37
00:00:37
It can pick up a blade of grass 00:00:41
00:00:41
or uproot a tree.00:00:43
00:00:47
Some elephants can use
their trunks to feed themselves 00:00:51
00:00:51
around 270 kilograms (600 lbs)
of vegetation 00:00:54
00:00:54
every day.00:00:57
00:01:04
With their trunks, 00:01:06
00:01:06
they can suck water like a straw, 00:01:09
00:01:15
spray like a fountain, 00:01:17
00:01:17
and swim with a snorkel.00:01:20
00:01:24
The trunk can give a gentle touch, 00:01:28
00:01:30
give a strong push, 00:01:33
00:01:33
or sound a warning trumpet.00:01:37
00:01:37
Engineers admire
the elephant trunk’s remarkable flexibility. 00:01:41
00:01:42
This comes from having no bone. 00:01:44
00:01:44
Instead, it contains 00:01:46
00:01:46
about 150,000 muscle units00:01:50
00:01:50
—an incredible marriage
of strength and structure.00:01:55
00:01:55
Inspired by the elephant’s trunk,
researchers are designing robots00:01:59
00:01:59
for the future with greater flexibility.00:02:02
00:02:02
Industrial design
often can be made better by copying 00:02:07
00:02:07
the perfectly beautiful solutions
in the natural world.00:02:11
00:02:11
What do you think? 00:02:13
00:02:13
Did the elephant’s trunk evolve? 00:02:17
00:02:20
Or . . .00:02:22
Was It Designed? The Elephant’s Trunk
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Was It Designed? The Elephant’s Trunk
The trunk of the African elephant
is an impressive multitool.
It is both flexible
and strong.
It can pick up a blade of grass
or uproot a tree.
Some elephants can use
their trunks to feed themselves
around 270 kilograms (600 lbs)
of vegetation
every day.
With their trunks,
they can suck water like a straw,
spray like a fountain,
and swim with a snorkel.
The trunk can give a gentle touch,
give a strong push,
or sound a warning trumpet.
Engineers admire
the elephant trunk’s remarkable flexibility.
This comes from having no bone.
Instead, it contains
about 150,000 muscle units
—an incredible marriage
of strength and structure.
Inspired by the elephant’s trunk,
researchers are designing robots
for the future with greater flexibility.
Industrial design
often can be made better by copying
the perfectly beautiful solutions
in the natural world.
What do you think?
Did the elephant’s trunk evolve?
Or . . .
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