SMRTR Science & EngineeringSep 9, 2025Interesting Engineering

Chameleon’s ‘slingshot’ tongue could inspire next-gen space and medical tech

SMRTR summary

Researchers at University of South Florida discovered that chameleons and salamanders use identical "slingshot" tongue mechanisms despite evolving separately. Both animals can launch their tongues at speeds up to 16 feet per second using ordinary tissues, which could inspire new technologies for medical devices to remove blood clots or tools to retrieve objects from collapsed buildings and space.

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