As anyone who’s gotten too close to a jumping cholla cactus can attest, the experience is singularly painful — and difficult to resolve, as the cactus’ spines are particularly stubborn to remove.

The same traits that allow barbed cactus spines to readily penetrate animal flesh also make the spines more difficult to dislodge, a new study finds. The microscopic barbs on the spines are layered ...

The spines of the jumping cholla cactus slide in with ease, but they’re grueling to extract. You can thank their barbs. ByKatherine J. Wu Tuesday, November 20, 2018 NOVA NextNOVA Next This unfortunate ...

Engineers have developed a sweat-collecting patch inspired by cactus spines. The patch readily performs body fluid analysis of sweat sensor when attached to the body and is readily applicable in ...

One benefit of working at a university with an agricultural school is the availability of meat. That’s especially useful if you need something to stab cactus spines into. The scientists weren’t as ...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Beware the jumping cholla, Cylindropuntia fulgida. This shrubby, branching cactus will - if provoked by touching - anchor its splayed spines in the flesh of the offender. The barbed ...