How to bang your head without harming yourself

Ever banged your head to something so hard.. you ended up having a concussion?

Well, then there's a bird out there who is much more stronger than you are (NOT AN OSTRICH)!

Its a .......

drumrollz please...........

WOODPECKER!!!!

Woodpeckers drum their head into the tree up to 6000 times a day, with each drum forceful enough to cause a severe concussion in a human!

And yet, they don't stop. They remain focused and continue doing their job until they have dug in a cozy home for themselves.

But how is a tiny bird stronger than humans!?

The secret lies in it's tiny MARVELOUS BIOLOGICALLY ENGINEERED skull!

Over millions of years, evolution has shaped it into a natural shock absorber with a built-in safety gear, unlike humans who need to wear a helmet.

It's skull has 4 mind-blowing features-

• Beak Structure: The upper and lower beak are slightly unequal in length, reducing the direct transfer of force.

• Hyoid Bone: A long, flexible bone that wraps around the skull like a seatbelt, stabilizing the brain during impact.

• Spongy Bone Layer: Found in the skull, this layer absorbs and dissipates mechanical energy.

• Uneven Brain Cavity: This helps distribute pressure more evenly and reduces peak deceleration forces.

  
  

Amazing right? All these features together protect the birds from the strongest impact.

And, these features have made them the perfect inspiration for biomimetic innovations like next-generation protective gear and impact-resistant materials.

Some of these biomimetic innovations include-

• Advanced sports helmets and military headgear

  

• Protective packaging

• Crash resistant vehicle exteriors

  

  
  

  It doesn't stop here, researchers are also trying to incorporate this technology across aerospace, sports gear, robotics, and even wearable tech.

So next time your brother sneaks up with a bat and whacks your head in a WWE fight or your sister launches a surprise cushion attack, just remember- if humans had woodpecker skulls, family feuds would be a lot more fun and way less concussive.

Until then, let’s stick to learning from nature and maybe… keep the pillows soft.