Why can't the woodpecker have a concussion?

According to foreign media reports, the woodpecker quickly repeat the trees during feeding. What's surprising is that its brain can withstand repeated shocks. Currently, the latest research by scientists at Dalian University of Technology reveals the mysteries.

While the woodpecker repeatedly eats trees at high speed, it can still avoid brain damage. Due to the unique structure of the skull and beam, it can reduce the impact on the brain. Scientists at Dalian University of Technology, China, found that 99% of collision energy is stored in the woodpecker as strain energy.

Experts are very interested in how the woodpecker protects its brain when it detects a body shock. Its Special shockproof body structure can be used to create a new generation of spacecraft, cars, and protective clothing.

Engineers found that the woodpecker's body is like an excellent shockproof structure that can absorb the energy produced by body collisions. The frequency of woodpecker trees can reach 25Hz, but the brain is not damaged. Each time a woodpecker crawls a tree, it is equivalent to a human head hitting the wall at a rate of 25 km/h.

 

Woodpecker)

Computer simulation demonstrates precisely how the force is distributed on the woodpecker's skull

In this study, scientists made a 3D computer model of the woodpecker, using a program to understand how its shockproof body structure disperses impact energy. Dr. Wu chengwei and his research team scanned the woodpecker and built a 3D computer model.

They explained that Based on CT scanning technology, we obtained detailed image information about the internal structure of the woodpecker's head, and then input the Mimics software system to form a distributed point model.

More software programs are used to improve this geometric model, which can test how collision energy is dispersed by the Special Body Structure of the woodpecker. They point out that 99.7% of collision energy is transformed into strain energy, stored in the woodpecker body, only 0.3% of the collision energy acts on the head.

Beam and tongue can effectively reduce brain response energy, a small amount of collision energy enters the central area of the brain, will eventually dissipate into heat form, so that the brain rapidly heats up. That's why the woodpecker must regularly eat trees and take a short rest.

Currently, this latest research report can be used to design shockproof facilities, such as new-generation space vessels, automobiles, and protective clothing. Dr. Wu chengwei said: "high-speed collision and impact can destroy equipment structures and materials. In the aerospace manufacturing field, spacecraft will face potential collision risks, space debris and micrometeor are both hazard sources. If a spacecraft or scientific device is damaged during a collision, this will cause huge economic losses ."

In addition, automobile collisions pose a serious threat to driver's personal safety and often lead to head damage. Therefore, a unique vehicle shockproof material is urgently needed to effectively reduce the personal injury caused by automobile collisions.

 

Why can't the woodpecker have a concussion?