"Exploding Weed Seeds (28,546 fps Slow Motion)- Smarter Every Day 257"

[rjlittlefield]

"Exploding Weed Seeds (28,546 fps Slow Motion)- Smarter Every Day 257"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUaTOoVmg1Q

I found this one very interesting in several respects. One of those is over 200,000 views within a few hours of its release, for a video of weed seeds exploding.

Somehow I find this reassuring.

--Rik

[Chris S.]

The video was indeed interesting. Ive long wanted to do something like this with the impressively-exploding seed pods of jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), but good high-speed video cameras are expensive. (The Phantom v2511 camera used by Smarter Every Day is said to start at $150,000 USD.

I see that Smarter Every Day has almost ten million subscribers, and that by now, this video has almost 2.5 million views.

The fellow at Smarter Every Day proposed that exploding seed pods effectively randomize seed distribution. Likely this is true, but I suspect another benefit to the plant is that exploding pods make seed it difficult for seed-eating animals to find and eat all the seeds.

--Chris S.

[debunix]

I've read about exploding seed pods before, but this was the most visually compelling exploration yet. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Adalbert]

Hi Rik,
Cool, something like throwing candy at a carnival parade in Cologne :-)
Best , ADi

[MarkSturtevant]

That is very cool! I've played with these plants at various times. There is also the underlying reason why they split and curl in the first place. Abscission zones for easy splitting, and maybe strong hydrostatic pressure?

[Harald]

One word only: "Amazing"