The environment to the rescue: can physics help predict predator–prey interactions?

M Cherif, U Brose, MR Hirt, R Ryser, V Silve… - Biological …, 2024‏ - Wiley Online Library
Understanding the factors that determine the occurrence and strength of ecological
interactions under specific abiotic and biotic conditions is fundamental since many aspects …

The importance of continents, oceans and plate tectonics for the evolution of complex life: implications for finding extraterrestrial civilizations

RJ Stern, TV Gerya - Scientific Reports, 2024‏ - nature.com
Within the uncertainties of involved astronomical and biological parameters, the Drake
Equation typically predicts that there should be many exoplanets in our galaxy hosting …

Future tail tales: A forward-looking, integrative perspective on tail research

MJ Schwaner, ST Hsieh, I Braasch… - Integrative and …, 2021‏ - academic.oup.com
Synopsis Tails are a defining characteristic of chordates and show enormous diversity in
function and shape. Although chordate tails share a common evolutionary and genetic …

Inertial tail effects during righting of squirrels in unexpected falls: from behavior to robotics

T Fukushima, R Siddall, F Schwab… - Integrative and …, 2021‏ - academic.oup.com
Arboreal mammals navigate a highly three dimensional and discontinuous habitat. Among
arboreal mammals, squirrels demonstrate impressive agility. In a recent “viral” YouTube …

Jointed tails enhance control of three-dimensional body rotation

X Fu, B Zhang, CJ Weber… - Journal of the …, 2025‏ - royalsocietypublishing.org
Tails used as inertial appendages induce body rotations of animals and robots—a
phenomenon that is governed largely by the ratio of the body and tail moments of inertia …

Mechanisms for mid-air reorientation using tail rotation in gliding geckos

R Siddall, V Ibanez, G Byrnes, RJ Full… - Integrative and …, 2021‏ - academic.oup.com
Arboreal animals face numerous challenges when negotiating complex three-dimensional
terrain. Directed aerial descent or gliding flight allows for rapid traversal of arboreal …

From behavior to bio-inspiration: Aerial reorientation and multi-plane stability in kangaroo rats, computational models, and robots

X Chu, MJ Schwaner, J An, S Wang… - Integrative and …, 2024‏ - academic.oup.com
Tails play essential roles in functions related to locomotor stability and maneuverability
among terrestrial and arboreal animals. In kangaroo rats, bipedal hop** rodents, tails are …

Overcoming obstacles using tail STAR: A novel sprawling robot with a two-joint tail

M Coronel, D Zarrouk - IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2023‏ - ieeexplore.ieee.org
This letter presents Tail STAR (TSTAR), a novel reconfigurable robot with an active two-link
tail. TSTAR is also fitted with a sprawling mechanism that lets it run either upright or inverted …

Manipulator as a tail: Promoting dynamic stability for legged locomotion

H Huang, A Loquercio, A Kumar… - … on Robotics and …, 2024‏ - ieeexplore.ieee.org
For locomotion, is an arm on a legged robot a liability or an asset for locomotion? Biological
systems evolved additional limbs beyond legs that facilitates postural control. This work …

The role of mouse tails in response to external and self-generated balance perturbations on the roll plane

SA Lacava, N Isilak… - Journal of Experimental …, 2024‏ - journals.biologists.com
Chordate tails exhibit considerable morphological and functional diversity, with variations in
length, diameter and texture adapted to various ecological roles. While some animals …