Biology
The Biomechanics of Burrowing and Fossorial Locomotion in Mammals
Quick fact
A star-nosed mole can excavate a tunnel at a rate of up to 15 feet per hour, using forelimbs that are rotated outward and powered by muscles that make up nearly 40% of its body mass.
Why this is interesting
Ever wondered how a mole can tunnel through packed earth so fast that it appears to 'swim' through the soil? What hidden machinery makes such powerful digging possible?