Researchers used high-speed cameras and slowed the video to study the jumping abilities of frogs. The team found that the frogs can use their very stretchy muscles to create energy to jump up to more than ten times their length.

© 2010 National Geographic; Manny Azizi, Tom Roberts and Emily Abbott

Researchers used high-speed cameras to study frog muscles, and the slowed-down video helps reveal secrets of the frog’s jumping abilities.

The researchers from Brown University studied the video frame by frame. The videos you’re seeing were shot at 500 frames per second.

Before the frogs jump, they stretch most of their hindlimb muscles, and increase their length, which may be part of their secret.

The Brown University research paper, published recently in the Proceedings