The Surprising Power of an Electric Eel’s Shock
By: Carl Zimmer
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/science/the-surprising-power-of-an-electric-eels-shock.html?ref=science
In the late 1700s, scientists began
to consider the fact that the electric eel’s shock may contain the same
substances as lightning. An Italian physicist, named Alessandro Volta, began to
experiment with electric eels. He found that electric eels have a stack of
muscles, which may allow them to store electric charges. Volta stacked metal
sheets made of copper and zinc. In his experiment, he found that these metal
sheets could store a huge amount of energy. This experiment was the predated
version of batteries. Recently, doctor Catania found that electric eels use
small shocks to lure their victims out and later use large shocks to paralyze
them. He found that the paralysis could be transferred within three
milliseconds. Catania also found that the shock alter the connection between
muscles and the spine. Electric eels search the bottom regions of their habitat
for prey. Naturally, prey hide from their predator. However, the electric eel
has the ability to send a doublet, causing the prey to flail around because of
increased electrical activity in the area.
Electric
eels have the same ability as a Taser. They possess special qualities that
could be used for other purposes. Scientists have also found that five other
species exist that are similar to electric eels. Scientists have made a
significant breakthrough in biology. However, they do not know how electric
eels paralyze their victims. Perhaps, trying to discover how they conduct
paralysis, can lead to many new secrets. It is exciting to witness how fish how
evolved to produce electricity in order to survive.
