Biology
The Biomechanics of Ballistic Tongue Projection in Chameleons
Quick fact
A chameleon's tongue can accelerate from rest to 6 meters per second in just 20 milliseconds, reaching power outputs that exceed what its muscles could directly generate. This is achieved by storing elastic energy in collagen fibers and releasing it suddenly, like a crossbow.
Why this is interesting
Imagine sticking out your tongue to catch a fly—that takes about a second. A chameleon does it in 20 milliseconds, faster than you can blink. How can a tiny lizard produce such explosive speed?