A porcupine quill only needs half the force of a hypodermic needle in order to pierce skin. This new study also explains why the quills are hard to remove and this discovery could improve a variety of medical instruments.
The scientists published their findings in the journal . Porcupine quills are actually large, stiff hairs that help defend the animals against their predators. The rodents don’t throw their quills, but they do shed them easily, and they can become firmly embedded in their enemies.