Biology
The Mechanics of Jet Propulsion in Cephalopods
Quick fact
Squid can accelerate from rest to over 8 meters per second in just a few tenths of a second, using jet propulsion—comparable to a human sprinter accelerating to top speed in a single stride.
Why this is interesting
Imagine shooting through water without fins or flippers—just by taking a gulp of water and forcing it out in a burst. That's exactly how squids and octopuses zoom around. How does a soft-bodied animal manage such high-speed movement?