The Toughest Shrimp Around

When a tiny mantis shrimp is hungry, it lines up a snail and delivers a lightning fast and powerful whack to the shell, cracking it open for easy feasting. The amazing thing is that the shrimp's smashing move delivers over 200 pounds of force, hundreds of times more than its own body weight. According to UC Berkeley integrative biologist Sheila Patek, that impressive impact comes from the speed of the motion, decidedly the swiftest kick in all of the animal kingdom.

Chilling News About Glaciers

When most people look out over the Golden Gate Bridge, they're awe-struck by the majesty of the San Francisco Bay. Not UC Berkeley professor Kurt Cuffey. Staring out at the Pacific Ocean, the first thing that pops into his mind, he says, is the sea level. Meanwhile, visions of glaciers dance in his head. Cuffey studies polar ice sheets to understand the history of climate change and predict future shifts in our planet's physical environment.

From Crime Scenes to Life on Mars

UC Berkeley chemist Richard Mathies designs high-tech tools for two very different kinds of detectives. On Earth, his group is developing instruments that will be used by forensic scientists to help solve crimes using DNA analysis. A similar system could also aid astrobiologists in hunting for life on Mars without ever stepping foot on the red planet.

Sheila Patek, pictured here with a Mantis Shrimp, also studies the biomechanics and physiology of how lobsters communicate. (photo copyright John B. Carnett/POPULAR SCIENCE MAGAZINE)