Shrimp that can shoot fireballs

Please enjoy this classic article from the archives while I work on my job applications. If you’ve got a job for a smart young skeptic who loves science, be sure to get in touch.

The snapping shrimp (Alpheus heterochaelis) is so named for its habit of making an extremely loud snapping sound by the rapid closure of its snapper claw. For a long time it was thought that the sound was made by the two surfaces of the claw striking eachother, much in the same way as you clicking your fingers. However, research published in Science demonstrates that the loud pop is actually produced by the collapse of a cavitation bubble brought about by the extreme pressure created by the closing snapper.

However, that is not where the story ends. The pressures created by the snapping shrimp are so high that the collapsing bubble heats up to 5,000 K (!!!), emitting a short spark of light. This is the first known example of “shrimpoluminescence” and the only known species that can shoot fireballs out of its limbs. Whether the shrimp could also be heard shouting “hadouken!” at the moment of snapping remains in debate.

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Add comment June 21st, 2007