These Are the Only Photos Ever Captured of the Surface of Venus

Venus fly traps are the stuff of nightmares and the poster child for carnivorous plants, and we finally have a better understanding of exactly how they work. A study published today identified a chemical ion that surrounds the base of a Venus fly trap’s sensory hairs—the key sensor that detects the very faint touches by prey like flies. That’s critical because the nightmare plant doesn’t have any nerves. | Popular Science