Snakes

Scientists who worked out how snakes slither on their bellies are hoping this discovery could help develop new, hard-wearing paints and surfaces.

Researchers looked at the belly of a California kingsnake and found that it is covered in a thin layer of oil that allows the snake to slither on rough surfaces without damaging its scales.

This oil is made up of lots of tightly packed fatty molecules and it’s hoped the discovery could help engineers design harder-wearing new paints and surfaces that help stop wear and tear.