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Viola seed pod architecture shapes sequential, force-augmented pinching.

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Title: Viola seed pod architecture shapes sequential, force-augmented pinching.
Authors: Kim, Cheongsan (AUTHOR), Won, Jihyun (AUTHOR), Kim, Donghyeon (AUTHOR), Jung, Sohyun (AUTHOR), Kim, Ho-Young (AUTHOR), Hyun, Youbong (AUTHOR)
Source: Science. 6/18/2026, Vol. 392 Issue 6804, p1302-1307. 6p.
Subjects: Seed pods, Plant mechanics, Actuators, Seed dispersal, Soft robotics, Violaceae
Abstract: Many plants explosively launch seeds, but these natural catapults often display inefficient, unpredictable energy transfer in seed ejection. Violets (Viola spp.) address this problem by ejecting seeds successively with consistent propulsive force from a single pod, a strategy that requires sophisticated energy release. In this work, we show that Viola achieves this feat with a simple and compact structure that generates adaptive force augmentation through sequential pinching. Our biological and mathematical analyses indicate that the pod valve's morphogeometry optimizes pinching with sufficient strength for seed ejection with limited material cost and creates a shifting force-amplifying hotspot, which allows consecutive seed ejections. We use this design principle to create autonomous zipping actuators for a range of applications, including biomedical soft machines. Editor's summary: Many plant species use ballistic seed dispersal, meaning that seeds are released all at once through pod explosion. By contrast, the perennial herb violet (Viola) ejects seeds one after another. Kim et al. found that violets achieve this through a sequential pinching of the seed pod valve (see the Perspective by Patek). The violet's pod valve geometry optimizes pinching from its farthest to its closest end. Resulting shifting force utilization enables violet valves to overcome the energy barrier for consecutive seed ejection. Using this design principle, the authors engineered a device that shrinks when wet, with potential applications in minimally invasive surgeries. —Unnati Sonawala and Madeleine Seale [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 194701412
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Viola seed pod architecture shapes sequential, force-augmented pinching.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Cheongsan%22">Kim, Cheongsan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Won%2C+Jihyun%22">Won, Jihyun</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Donghyeon%22">Kim, Donghyeon</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jung%2C+Sohyun%22">Jung, Sohyun</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Ho-Young%22">Kim, Ho-Young</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hyun%2C+Youbong%22">Hyun, Youbong</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science%22">Science</searchLink>. 6/18/2026, Vol. 392 Issue 6804, p1302-1307. 6p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seed+pods%22">Seed pods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plant+mechanics%22">Plant mechanics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Actuators%22">Actuators</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seed+dispersal%22">Seed dispersal</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soft+robotics%22">Soft robotics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Violaceae%22">Violaceae</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Many plants explosively launch seeds, but these natural catapults often display inefficient, unpredictable energy transfer in seed ejection. Violets (Viola spp.) address this problem by ejecting seeds successively with consistent propulsive force from a single pod, a strategy that requires sophisticated energy release. In this work, we show that Viola achieves this feat with a simple and compact structure that generates adaptive force augmentation through sequential pinching. Our biological and mathematical analyses indicate that the pod valve's morphogeometry optimizes pinching with sufficient strength for seed ejection with limited material cost and creates a shifting force-amplifying hotspot, which allows consecutive seed ejections. We use this design principle to create autonomous zipping actuators for a range of applications, including biomedical soft machines. Editor's summary: Many plant species use ballistic seed dispersal, meaning that seeds are released all at once through pod explosion. By contrast, the perennial herb violet (Viola) ejects seeds one after another. Kim et al. found that violets achieve this through a sequential pinching of the seed pod valve (see the Perspective by Patek). The violet's pod valve geometry optimizes pinching from its farthest to its closest end. Resulting shifting force utilization enables violet valves to overcome the energy barrier for consecutive seed ejection. Using this design principle, the authors engineered a device that shrinks when wet, with potential applications in minimally invasive surgeries. —Unnati Sonawala and Madeleine Seale [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194701412
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        Value: 10.1126/science.aed2953
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Seed pods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plant mechanics
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      – SubjectFull: Actuators
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      – SubjectFull: Seed dispersal
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      – SubjectFull: Violaceae
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      – TitleFull: Viola seed pod architecture shapes sequential, force-augmented pinching.
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            NameFull: Kim, Cheongsan
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            NameFull: Won, Jihyun
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            NameFull: Kim, Donghyeon
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              M: 06
              Text: 6/18/2026
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              Y: 2026
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