Next Episode Sneak Peek - Rattlesnake Rattles! (Patreon)

 A rattlesnake's rattle isn't like a maraca, with little bits shaking around inside. So how exactly does it make that sound? 

The rattlesnake’s rattle is actually made up of loosely interlocking segments made of keratin, the same strong fibrous protein in your fingernails. Each section is held in place by the one in front and behind it, but the individual segments can move bit.

The snake uses special high-performance muscles to shake its tail, sending undulating waves down the length of the rattle. The segments are loose, so they click against each other. It happens so fast that all you hear is a buzz and all you see is a blur.

Brad Moon, a biologist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, studies those shaker muscles. Using high-speed cameras, Moon recorded rattlesnakes shaking their tails at 50 to 100 times every second. Since they’re coldblooded, rattlesnakes shake their rattles faster at higher temperatures.

“These rattling muscles, they’re just super-athletic,” Moon said. 

It’s one of the fastest sustained muscular contractions in the natural world -- right up there with a hummingbird’s beating wings.”

Plus those specialized muscles allow the rattle to shake for up to two hours without stopping.

 We hope you enjoy this first look at our newest episode. You can start sharing it with other science fans on Tuesday, July 30th from YouTube. Thanks!