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Bug spray, citronella candles, mosquito netting – most
people will do anything they can to stay away from insects during the warmer
months. But those creepy crawlers we try so hard to avoid may offer substantial
solutions to some of life’s problems.
Researchers using the cutting-edge X-ray technology at the
U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Photon Source (APS) were able to take an
inside look at several insects, gathering results that go beyond learning about
insect physiology and biology. What they found could provide a blueprint for a
material used for artificial ligaments, a chemical-free way to protect crops
from insects and a new insight on how human muscles function.