Experimental Presets
ScienceNews Validation
🔬 Microscopic Mucin Network
Cross-links: Active
🐌 Macroscopic Locomotion Arena
Vertical Climb
📈 Dynamic Rheometer (Shear Stress vs Rate)
Herschel-Bulkley Model
⚡ Inspectable Polymer Telemetry
Real-time Bio-Physics
Yield Stress (τ₀)
42.8 Pa
Adhesion threshold
Cross-link Fraction
0.68
Ca²⁺ bridged sites
Apparent Viscosity
3.56 Pa·s
At applied shear rate
Crawl Efficiency
88.4%
Wave power transfer
Biopolymer Insight: Divalent Calcium (Ca²⁺) forms ionic salt bridges between carboxylate and sulfate groups on adjacent mucin glycoprotein strands. Low Ca²⁺ enables low-viscosity shear-thinning for effortless gliding; high Ca²⁺ creates a crosslinked hydrogel with high yield stress, preventing backward slip on vertical walls and inverted ceilings.