M. Saad Bhamla

This study investigates how termite soldiers use viscoelastic secretions to create a liquid lasso for defense, extending their reach and trapping predators.

This paper shows that the timing of forces in a robotic tug-of-war determines the outcome, with lagging teams winning under certain conditions, and introduces a decentralized control rule for cooperative transport.

This study shows jumping spiders use a stereotyped two-stage takeoff sequence despite morphological diversity and mechanical constraints.

This paper investigates ultrafast contraction in Spirostomum using myonemes, showing centrin-Sfi1 structures drive calcium-triggered contraction without actomyosin or ATP.

This paper develops light-controlled chemomechanical networks using Tcb2 protein to achieve rapid, repeatable actuation and dynamic self-assembly.

This paper describes a robot inspired by springtails' jumping mechanism, using a compliant hinge to enable terrain-adaptable takeoff without onboard sensing.

This study uses optical calcium release to investigate Tcb2 self-assembly in Tetrahymena, identifying D184 as the key calcium binding site for assembly.

This study shows electrostatic forces help parasitic nematodes attach to insect hosts in the air, improving their survival.

This paper studies the agile maneuvering of ripple bugs and develops a robotic fan inspired by their elastocapillary mechanisms, showing improved thrust and turning capabilities.

This paper introduces a 3D tracking method to study water-hopping mudskippers in natural habitats, revealing how fish size and terrain affect hopping kinematics.

This study investigates how adhesion and injury cues influence the predation of blackworms by planarians, showing that adhesion prevents escape and injury cues may signal prey.

This study shows that katydids adjust their walking speed and gait based on incline angle and body mass, but not substrate roughness.

This paper studies the locomotion of Rhagovelia oriander in flowing environments, finding that its run-and-tumble movement improves food capture efficiency.

This study investigates the fluid dynamics of Manu jumping to determine optimal parameters for maximizing splash size.

This paper demonstrates that a reversible kink instability in nematodes enhances jumping performance and proposes a bio-inspired model for soft robots.

This study describes how Helobdella leeches capture fast-escaping blackworms using a spiral entombment strategy, highlighting predator-prey dynamics in freshwater ecosystems.

This study shows wax tails on planthopper nymphs reduce body rotation and improve landing success by creating aerodynamic drag during jumps.

This study analyzes the locomotion of Microvelia insects across different surfaces, finding they maintain consistent leg movements on duckweed and adjust stride length based on surface texture, achieving higher speeds on water.

This study examines how Microvelia insects adapt to tarsal loss by altering their leg dynamics and gait during water walking.

This study investigates interfacial vortex recapture in Microvelia americana, showing how it enhances thrust through vortex re-energization and tripod gait mechanics.

Trackoscope enables long-term, high-resolution tracking of microscale organisms in a large area, capturing diverse behaviors like ciliate movement and bacterial hunting.

The paper introduces ElectroPen, a low-cost electroporator for delivering molecules across cell membranes, demonstrating comparable efficiency to commercial devices at a fraction of the cost.