April 2025 PMID 40267223

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots.

Sunny Kumar, Ishant Tiwari, Victor M Ortega-Jimenez, Adler R Dillman, Dongjing He, Yuhang Hu, Saad Bhamla

Mentions

57
Peak: 22 in Apr 2025
across 6 sources since Jun 2024

Extended reach

6,189,263
potential audience

Total likes

30,692

Video views

557,759

Mentions per month

Jun 2024 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News21 articles
  • X / Twitter20 posts
  • YouTube6 videos
  • Bluesky4 posts
  • Blogs4 articles
  • Facebook2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect strong enthusiasm, with posts praising how the study uncovers natural jumping mechanisms inspiring advanced soft robots capable of impressive leaps, like jumping 10 feet high. The tone and focus on bioinspired design and potential applications demonstrate both deep interest and recognition of the research's transformative implications.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions express enthusiasm and support for the article's findings, highlighting its innovative aspects.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show high interest, with references to bioinspired design, robot capabilities, and potential applications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Many posts include specific details about jumping mechanisms and implications, indicating thoughtful engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

Participants emphasize the significant potential for robotics and scientific understanding, suggesting high perceived impact.

Abstract in brief

  • Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) utilize a bending-elastic kink before jumping, which enhances their launch performance by allowing for greater energy storage and adjustable takeoff direction.
  • Researchers demonstrated that EPNs can actively change their shape to create a dynamic loop before quickly releasing it, achieving impressive jump heights of up to 20 body lengths and a power output of around 10 watts per kilogram.
  • A bioinspired model, known as the soft jumping model (SoftJM), was developed to study these mechanisms, leading to the design of soft robots capable of controlled jumping across various terrains, thus showing potential for future robotic applications in exploration.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Science Magazine
@ScienceMagazine · X

Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and used these findings to design a soft jumping robot. Learn more in @SciRobotics: https://t.co/xssLcA3eAo https://t.co/o4sCgwX8rp

Apr 29, 2025 · 49 likes · 7 shares · 4,512,605 followers View post →
Science Robotics
@SciRobotics · X

A new Science #Robotics study describes a #bioinspired soft #jumper that can leap nearly 25 times its own height and launch itself from the ground and through a 10-foot-high basketball hoop. @GTChBE https://t.co/dKcA0t2aEj https://t.co/d8ZTJ2LTPO

Apr 28, 2025 · 20 likes · 3 shares · 27,648 followers View post →
Science Robotics
@SciRobotics · X

Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and used these findings to design a soft #jumping robot. @BhamlaLab Learn more in Science #Robotics: https://t.co/dKcA0t2aEj https://t.co/WTa9cjr7VR

Apr 23, 2025 · 14 likes · 5 shares · 27,648 followers View post →
TechXplore
@TechXplore_com · X

#A 5-inch #SoftRobot, inspired by nematodes, can jump 10 feet high without legs by storing and releasing energy through body kinks, offering new possibilities for terrain navigation. @georgiatech @SciRobotics https://t.co/LNehLYeIk9 https://t.co/NAEsn2FXWD

Apr 23, 2025 · 7 likes · 9 shares · 21,287 followers View post →
bioRxiv Biophysics
@biorxiv-biophys.bsky.social · Bluesky

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.07.598012v1

Jun 10, 2024 · 2 likes · 2 shares View post →
bioRxiv Biophysics
@biorxiv_biophys · X

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots https://t.co/rBm9Pd4WuB #biorxiv_biophys

Jun 10, 2024 · 1 like · 5,370 followers View post →

All mentions

Soft Robots Inspired by Worms Achieving Ultrafast Jumping

Georgia Tech researchers developed a soft worm-inspired robot that can jump over three meters without legs or wheels. The video discusses bioinspired jumping mechanisms and recent advances in soft robotic designs for…

Wels · May 17, 2025 2,325 views
Kinny Lai
@Kinny153 · X

RT @ScienceMagazine: Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and u…

Apr 29, 2025 · 7 shares · 34 followers View post →
technoglyf
@technoglyf · X

RT @ScienceMagazine: Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and u…

Apr 29, 2025 · 7 shares · 3,167 followers View post →
Science Magazine
@ScienceMagazine · X

Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and used these findings to design a soft jumping robot. Learn more in @SciRobotics: https://t.co/xssLcA3eAo https://t.co/o4sCgwX8rp

Apr 29, 2025 · 49 likes · 7 shares · 4,512,605 followers View post →
Ishant Tiwari
@itiwari93 · X

RT @SciRobotics: A new Science #Robotics study describes a #bioinspired soft #jumper that can leap nearly 25 times its own height and launc…

Apr 28, 2025 · 3 shares · 177 followers View post →
Science Robotics
@SciRobotics · X

A new Science #Robotics study describes a #bioinspired soft #jumper that can leap nearly 25 times its own height and launch itself from the ground and through a 10-foot-high basketball hoop. @GTChBE https://t.co/dKcA0t2aEj https://t.co/d8ZTJ2LTPO

Apr 28, 2025 · 20 likes · 3 shares · 27,648 followers View post →
Math and Science+current affairs
@mathsciaffairs · X

RT @currentaffairsa: #lifescience #Robots #robotics https://t.co/EdGqZmRtda https://t.co/ufOXGEnOsH

Apr 28, 2025 · 1 share · 16 followers View post →
Math and Science+current affairs
@mathsciaffairs · X

#lifescience #Robots #robotics https://t.co/EdGqZmRtda https://t.co/ufOXGEnOsH

Apr 28, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 16 followers View post →
Ibrahim Khan
@iakhan13.bsky.social · Bluesky

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots | Science Robotics www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Apr 24, 2025 View post →
Sunny Kumar
@chemsunnyrajpal · X

Adler R. Dillman (UC Riverside), Dongjing He (Georgia Tech), Yuhang Hu (Georgia Tech). https://t.co/L8yNo2ALUW

Apr 24, 2025 · 458 followers View post →
Sunny Kumar
@chemsunnyrajpal · X

Can a nematode perform a jump without legs? Out in #ScienceRobotics today, titled “Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots! Paper link: https://t.co/zcHdqA28sr Collaborators at GT- Ishant Tiwari, Saad Bhamla, and Victor(UC Berkeley)other

Apr 24, 2025 · 458 followers View post →
Sunny Kumar
@chemsunnyrajpal · X

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots | Science Robotics https://t.co/L8yNo2ALUW

Apr 23, 2025 · 1 like · 458 followers View post →
Sunny Kumar
@chemicalsunnyraj.bsky.social · Bluesky

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots | Science Robotics www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Apr 23, 2025 · 1 like View post →
NP AGARWAL世界一フォローを目指しますAiming best in world.
@np_grwl · X

RT @TechXplore_com: #A 5-inch #SoftRobot, inspired by nematodes, can jump 10 feet high without legs by storing and releasing energy through…

Apr 23, 2025 · 9 shares · 1,789 followers View post →
島田 草太朗
@muimi_no_kokoro · X

RT @SciRobotics: Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and used…

Apr 23, 2025 · 5 shares · 370 followers View post →
Katsushi Kagaya @katzkagaya.bsky.social
@katzkagaya · X

RT @SciRobotics: Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and used…

Apr 23, 2025 · 5 shares · 3,669 followers View post →
慎NOMURA
@SMNomura · X

RT @SciRobotics: Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and used…

Apr 23, 2025 · 5 shares · 669 followers View post →
translate
@Hi89446564 · X

RT @TechXplore_com: #A 5-inch #SoftRobot, inspired by nematodes, can jump 10 feet high without legs by storing and releasing energy through…

Apr 23, 2025 · 9 shares · 1,130 followers View post →
Claude Gillono
@sherman1959CG · X

RT @TechXplore_com: #A 5-inch #SoftRobot, inspired by nematodes, can jump 10 feet high without legs by storing and releasing energy through…

Apr 23, 2025 · 9 shares · 169 followers View post →
Science Robotics
@SciRobotics · X

Scientists have uncovered how some parasitic worms bend their bodies to form “kinks” that enable powerful jumps, and used these findings to design a soft #jumping robot. @BhamlaLab Learn more in Science #Robotics: https://t.co/dKcA0t2aEj https://t.co/WTa9cjr7VR

Apr 23, 2025 · 14 likes · 5 shares · 27,648 followers View post →
Phys.org
@physorg_com · X

RT @TechXplore_com: #A 5-inch #SoftRobot, inspired by nematodes, can jump 10 feet high without legs by storing and releasing energy through…

Apr 23, 2025 · 9 shares · 1,024,175 followers View post →
TechXplore
@TechXplore_com · X

#A 5-inch #SoftRobot, inspired by nematodes, can jump 10 feet high without legs by storing and releasing energy through body kinks, offering new possibilities for terrain navigation. @georgiatech @SciRobotics https://t.co/LNehLYeIk9 https://t.co/NAEsn2FXWD

Apr 23, 2025 · 7 likes · 9 shares · 21,287 followers View post →
bioRxiv Biophysics
@biorxiv-biophys.bsky.social · Bluesky

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.07.598012v1

Jun 10, 2024 · 2 likes · 2 shares View post →
bioRxivpreprint
@biorxivpreprint.bsky.social · Bluesky

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.07.598012v1

Jun 10, 2024 View post →
bioRxiv Biophysics
@biorxiv_biophys · X

Reversible kink instability drives ultrafast jumping in nematodes and soft robots https://t.co/rBm9Pd4WuB #biorxiv_biophys

Jun 10, 2024 · 1 like · 5,370 followers View post →