[Lee Stewart]

Ever wonder how woodpeckers are able to absolutely pound the hell out of tree trunks all day long and somehow continue functioning? It’s because their skulls have built-in shock absorbers, and scientists are stealing their natural design for airplane black boxes.

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, used video and CT scans of woodpeckers to discover that their skulls are designed with four structures that absorb mechanical shock, and their beaks also have an area filled with a spongy and cerebrospinal fluid that work to inhibit vibration and concussions. The scientists used this to create more shock-resistant flight recorders, also known as black boxes.