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Great spotted woodpecker
Noggin of steel
While woodpeckers' ability to slam their noses against a tree 20 times per second may not inspire envy, it's still pretty astonishing. Researchers are still working to understand how these little drummer birds endure repeated cranial shocks at a g-force of over 1,200 without so much as a headache. For context, a 100-g hit to the head is more than enough to give you concussion. Scientists hope a better understanding of woodpeckers' resilient skulls will lead to better protective measures against human head trauma.
Noggin of steel
While woodpeckers' ability to slam their noses against a tree 20 times per second may not inspire envy, it's still pretty astonishing. Researchers are still working to understand how these little drummer birds endure repeated cranial shocks at a g-force of over 1,200 without so much as a headache. For context, a 100-g hit to the head is more than enough to give you concussion. Scientists hope a better understanding of woodpeckers' resilient skulls will lead to better protective measures against human head trauma.
Great spotted woodpeckers, such as this one, range all across Europe and northern Asia.
© Cavan Images/ Offset / Shutterstock 2026-09-11 08:45:51 :