Venus Flytrap's Bizarre Insect Capture Mechanism Has Long Puzzled Scientists—Now They Finally Know How It Works

Venus Flytrap's Bizarre Insect Capture Mechanism Has Long Puzzled Scientists—Now They Finally Know How It Works

The Venus flytrap is one of nature’s most unique and iconic carnivorous plants. Known for its ability to snap its leaves shut in less than a second when an unsuspecting insect makes contact with its sensitive trigger hairs, the plant can convert the lightest touch into an electrical signal that triggers the closure of its trap, despite lacking a brain or nervous system. For decades, researchers have sought to explain how a faint brush can elicit…