Cockroach vs. Hydraulic Press: Who Wins? | Deep Look

Do cockroaches -- those daring, disgusting disease vectors -- have anything at all to offer us? Scientists think so. They compressed American roaches with a hydraulic press, subjecting them to the force of 900 times their body weight. Don't worry (or do): They survived! How exactly do they do it?

DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.

Cockroaches can cause asthma and allergies as they spread their saliva and poop around your home. But scientists think these daring, disgusting disease vectors have something more to offer us than salmonella. American roaches are one of the fastest insects on the planet. They’re also talented athletes, compressing their bodies while scurrying through incredibly tight cracks. The American cockroach can withstand compressive forces totaling over 900 times their body weight! Researchers are using what they’ve learned about roaches to build robots the size of insects, which can squeeze into places humans can’t – like piles of rubble left by major earthquakes or hurricanes. And maybe down the line, much smaller versions of these robots could even enter our bodies to perform life-saving tasks!

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---+ Pesticide resistant roaches?

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GIF CHALLENGE WINNERS:

🏆Congratulations🏆 to these 5 fans on our Deep Look Community Tab who came up with the 5 most popular new names for our friend, the American cockroach!

@gabriellasteele727 / @jessehunter362 for "skitter critters"

@avanelletheclockfriend2515 for "Rubbish runners, Scrap skidaddlers, Litter critters, Impervious invertebrates, Tenacious trash tenants

@Weirdomanification for "Dysentery-dispensers"

@ChasingMoonMoths for "Scurry peanuts or speedy Lincoln logs."

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[mimischiffman]

Hiya! Mimi Schiffman, producer for this episode here! Have questions? Let ’em rip and I’ll do my best to answer!

I will lean on notes from some of the AWESOME researchers we had helping us with the piece (Kaushik Jayaram, Prof. of Robotics and Systems Design at University of Colorado Boulder @CUEngineering - formerly of @UCBerkeley; Chow-Yang Lee, Prof. of Urban Entomology at @ucriverside; Dr. Bill Donahue, Micheal Donahue, Bryan Carnett and Josh Gates at Sierra Research Laboratories, Inc.)

[chilicats]

Seeing how flat these guys can get crawling around really explains how they show up everywhere!

[AnruiK]

i will never like cockroaches, but mad respect for their stubborn ability to stay alive and thrive. i can only wish i was that annoying by spite

[TheRealSigyn]

Cockroaches scare me so bad but I watched this video anyways bc I'm just that dedicated to learning about my enemy 😭 😭 😭

[Sintrania]

So my mom’s flipflop is stronger than a hydraulic press 😂

[g-gon]

2:20 I'll tell you, the pressure my sandal is gonna hit it at.

[JarlTryggve]

Isn't it funny how society decides what is considered animal cruelty and what is not based on how annoying the animal is.

[darchandarchan]

cockroach slipping thru tight spaces is the funniest thing i never expected to be funny

[viridhornet]

No amount of money, knowledge, or freedom will convince me cockroaches are cool. Loved watching this video and seeing why i hate them so much, but i just cant sit in my room and with those demons flying around😂

[obidean]

The only Deep Look episode that had me re-questioning myself if I made the right choice to click and watch it, then it ends which I feel relieved haha

PS I hate roaches lol

[tanmaybehule]

Hates cockroaches
Gets easily scared when seeing even a single cockroach

*Still clicks the video because of curiosity and hates every second of the video whenever he comes on screen but atleast I got to know something
But at what cost...

[Poulped]

The hydraulic press shots were nerve wracking and weirdly intriguing. I was expecting to see the point at which the poor thing got crushed, I was GASPING

[Puni_punn]

I dont know what it is about Laura's voice, but its so amazing and relaxing. If im ever having trouble sleeping, her voice puts me right to sleep.

[pameiuioigoutu]

Oh god this was difficult to watch. But it was also very instructive and interesting 😅

[Hpa]

"Cockroaches aren't scary until they move in 3D"
-Some guy

[richiepatil]

So you mean my mama's slippers are stronger than an hydraulic press? No wonder it hurt so much.

[EddVCR]

Resilient fellas. I actually kinda envy their ability to adapt and overcome any obstacles, as well as their can-do attitudes that always find a solution to get to what they want, no matter how difficult it may be.

[hokostudios]

Woah, those acrobatics using the tarsal claws were so cool! You guys are definitely giving me a newfound appreciation of cockroaches (might help I haven't had to deal with pest roaches in unwanted places before, of course).

[TheBestSam]

Cockroaches are the only insect that fill me with disgust, I’m chill with anything else but there’s something so viscerally disgusting to me about these vile creatures

[vadepierce]

Ok but like. The cockroach is the perfect design for a micro robot.