Nature is full of beauty and verdant wonder, but there’s a darker side. Just beyond the edge of the environment’s allure sits violence. Nature seems to love a good fight, and it doesn’t discriminate.

Researchers have struggled to determine how mantis shrimp withstand repeated high-impact forces without structural damage. Known for their powerful punch, mantis shrimp can smash a shell with the ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. At first glance, the mantis shrimp is an unassuming ...

Known for their powerful punch, mantis shrimp can smash a shell with the force of a .22 caliber bullet. Yet, amazingly, these tough critters remain intact despite the intense shockwaves created by ...