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Woodpeckers and tennis players share similarities when preparing to strike

By Christopher Intagliata,

Marc Rivers

Published November 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM CST

Scientists have investigated how woodpeckers use their muscles and their breathing to prepare to strike wood -- and they liken it to the way tennis players prepare to smack a ball.

Christopher Intagliata

Christopher Intagliata is an editor at All Things Considered, where he writes news and edits interviews with politicians, musicians, restaurant owners, scientists and many of the other voices heard on the air.

See stories by Christopher Intagliata

Marc Rivers

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