Educator Guide: A Squirrely Robot and Stinky Plants

About this guide

Incorporate articles from the October issue of Science News Explores to learn how scientists used biomimicry to engineer a new type of robot and answer questions about the biological and chemical processes happening in plants that have evolved to increase their stench.

This Guide Includes:

Here come the squirrel-bots

Inspired by nature’s greatest acrobats, roboticists have made engineering leaps — creating and upgrading an agile, jumping robot that can grasp branches like a squirrel. Learn how scientists use biomimicry to launch new approaches to old engineering challenges. At the same time, explore concepts of momentum in daily life, then answer questions about possible applications for squirrely robots of the future.

How plants level up their stink

Some plants have evolved to produce putrid scents. Consider the phenomenon of smell before doing a card sort to show the biological and chemical processes happening in these plants. Then, answer questions about why and how the plants evolved to increase their stench.