Microscopic Driving

Have you ever ridden in a car with a standard transmission? A standard transmission requires that the driver push in the clutch with his foot and then shift gears with his hand to change speed. Sometimes when the clutch is not pushed in at the right time there is a terrible grinding noise. Yikes!

Scientists have recently found that a tiny microscopic creature also has a clutch. This creature has a tiny engine that keeps the flagella (tiny little feet) pedaling so the microscopic creature can swim. When the creature needs to stop, it pushes in a clutch and the little feet stop moving. These flagella rotate more than 200 times per second!

Scientists who study these tiny creatures are called nanotechnology experts. They are amazed that these creatures could have evolved such incredible motors. The real credit, though, goes to our awesome Creator—the real expert in nanotechnology!