Physics explains how snakes climb and stand without limbs

bioengineer: Someone who applies engineering to solve problems in biology or in systems that will use living organisms.

footage: (in movies and videos) A term for the uncut or unprocessed motion pictures or video imagery taken by a camera. It takes its name from the fact that it took several feet of film to capture a few seconds of motion-picture photography.

force: Some outside influence that can change the motion of an object, hold objects close to one another, or produce motion or stress in a stationary object.

gravity: The force that attracts anything with mass, or bulk, toward any other thing with mass. The more mass that something has, the greater its gravity.

interface: (in computing) A term for the technology people use to interact with a computer to input data and instructions or to receive its outputs. Long ago, people input data and instructions using punched cards or by typing and receiving data onto to a screen. More recently, interfaces can range from joysticks, headsticks and trackballs to voice commands, touch screens, haptic (skin-sensitive) sensations and holographic imagery.

model: A simulation of a real-world event (usually using a computer) that has been developed to predict one or more likely outcomes. Or an individual that is meant to display how something would work in or look on others.

muscle: A type of tissue used to produce movement by contracting its cells, known as muscle fibers. Muscle is rich in protein, which is why predatory species seek prey containing lots of this tissue.

python: A large, heavy-bodied, nonpoisonous constrictor snake.

robot: A machine that can sense its environment, process information and respond with specific actions. Some robots can act without any human input, while others are guided by a human.

roboticist: Someone who designs or builds robots.

scenario: A possible (or likely) sequence of events and how they might play out.

strategy: A thoughtful and clever plan for achieving some difficult or challenging goal.

tactic: An action or plan of action to accomplish a particular feat.

vertical: A term for the direction of a line or plane that runs up and down, as the vertical post for a streetlight does. It’s the opposite of horizontal, which would run parallel to the ground.

zoologist: An expert in the study of animals and their habitats.