Study Unveils Why Cheetahs Outrun Other Animals

Researchers identify a 'sweet spot' in muscle performance that enables medium-sized animals like cheetahs to achieve unrivaled speeds.

A new study reveals that medium-sized animals like cheetahs are the fastest due to a 'sweet spot' in muscle performance.
The study, involving researchers from Imperial College London and other institutions, identifies two limits to running speed: muscle contraction speed and contraction extent.
Cheetahs, weighing around 50kg, reach speeds up to 65 mph, benefiting from the optimal combination of these muscle performance factors.
The model challenges previous assumptions by showing that both small and large animals face unique constraints that limit their maximum speeds.
The findings could influence future robot designs and raise questions about the muscle physiology of extinct and modern animals.