Book 11, Question 148
Why Can a Flea Jump So High?
A flea can jump so high because its legs have a tiny built-in spring! The spring is made of a rubbery protein called resilin. It stores energy and then lets it out all at once.
More fun facts
- Fleas store energy in their bodies, then release it in a sudden leap.
- Scientists used high speed video to figure out how fleas jump.
- Fleas push off from their toes, not their knees.
- Filming was easier with the lights off, because the flea jumped as soon as lights came on.
- Researchers say the famous jumper has a surprisingly restricted way of jumping.
Sources: National Geographic, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
How did scientists solve the flea jump mystery?
They filmed fleas with high speed video and modeled how they move.