It's possible that the mechanism the fish use to control water with such precision might also find application in human-built nozzles, he adds, noting that adjustable jets are big business in many industries, including medicine.
"The biggest problem is how to modify the abrasive properties of a jet," Schuster says. "Usually this is done by modulating the release pressure or by varying the abrasives added to the jet. We are not aware of someone actually using a dynamically adjustable valve."
Archerfish target their prey with jets of water.
(Photo Credit: Current Biology, Gerullis et al.)
Archerfish target their prey with jets of water.
(Photo Credit: Ingo Rischawy (Schuster lab, University of Bayreuth))
Archerfish target their prey with jets of water.
(Photo Credit: Ingo Rischawy (Schuster lab, University of Bayreuth))
Source: Cell Press