This is what praying mantises look like wearing tiny 3D glasses
In a recently published Scientific Reports study, Newcastle University researchers found that praying mantises use 3D vision when they hunt. How did scientists determine this? By showing the insects images of prey both before and after outfitting them with old-school 3D glasses, of course.
Here are adorable photos of what this research looks like in practice, courtesy of Newcastle University:
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"139785","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"360","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"600"}}]]
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The glasses are attached with beeswax.
"Despite their minute brains, mantises are sophisticated visual hunters which can capture prey with terrifying efficiency," said study leader Jenny Read. "We can learn a lot by studying how they perceive the world."
-
Magazine printables - Nov. 21, 2025Puzzle and Quizzes Magazine printables - Nov. 21, 2025
-
The diminishing power of willpowerIn the Spotlight ‘Try harder’ attitude may not be the best way to achieve long-term goals
-
Greenland, Colombia, Cuba: where is Donald Trump eyeing up next?Today's Big Question Ousting Venezuela’s leader could embolden the US administration to exert its dominance elsewhere
-
Israel approves new West Bank settlementsSpeed Read The ‘Israeli onslaught has all but vanquished a free Palestinian existence in the West Bank’
-
US offers Ukraine NATO-like security pact, with caveatsSpeed Read The Trump administration has offered Ukraine security guarantees similar to those it would receive from NATO
-
Hong Kong court convicts democracy advocate LaiSpeed Read Former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was convicted in a landmark national security trial
-
Australia weighs new gun laws after antisemitic attackSpeed Read A father and son opened fire on Jewish families at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing at least 15
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Benin thwarts coup attemptSpeed Read President Patrice Talon condemned an attempted coup that was foiled by the West African country’s army
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
