Ingabe Laklanywa?

Ikhono Lokumba Lembaza Okuthiwa I-razor Clam

● Nakuba ibonakala ingenawo amandla anele okumba, le mbaza iyakwazi ukumba emhlabathini oqinile ngokushesha kangangokuba ize yabizwa ngokuthi “i-Ferrari yezilwane ezimba ngaphansi kwamanzi.” Bamangala abacwaningi. U-Anette Hosoi, ongomunye woprofesa eMassachusetts Institute of Technology uthi: “Sasazi ukuthi zenza okuthile okumangalisayo.” Iyini imfihlo yalezi zimbaza?

Cabanga: Le mbaza ifaka unyawo lwayo enhlabathini, imbe umgodi omncane osheshe ugcwaliswe amanzi nenhlabathi. Ibe seyehla yenyuka ngesikhathi esifanayo ibe ivula ivala igobolondo layo. Le nhlabathi iphenduka udaka ekwazi ukumba ingene kulo. Le mbaza ingamba umgodi ongamasentimitha angu-70 imba isentimitha elilodwa ngomzuzwana. Lapho isiwumbile futhi yangena kuwo, kunzima ukuyikhipha. Empeleni, uma ucabangela amandla ayo okubambelela namandla ewasebenzisayo ukuze ijule emhlabathini, le mbaza inamandla aphindwa izikhathi eziyishumi kunawamahange ambayo enziwa abantu.

Abacwaningi baye bashukunyiswa yile mbaza ukuba bathole amaqhinga okuklama lokho abakubiza ngokuthi ihange lokuqala “elihlakaniphile.” UHosoi uthi: “Liyavuleka livaleke, lizike likhuphuke njengembaza yangempela.” Ihange eliqine nelonga amandla njengaleli lingaba usizo kakhulu kumikhumbi-ngwenya yokucwaninga, izikhungo zokumba uwoyela ezintanta olwandle nemishini yokumba ekhipha iziqhumane enhlabathini.

Ucabangani? Ingabe ikhono lokumba lembaza i-razor clam laba khona ngengozi? Noma ingabe laklanywa?

[Izithombe ekhasini 23]

Leli sampula lehange “elihlakaniphile” lilingisa ikhono lokumba lembaza i-“razor clam”

[Imithombo]

Razor clams: © Philippe Clement/naturepl.com; “smart” anchor: Courtesy of Donna Coveney, Massachusetts Institute of Technology