jet stream

plural jet streams · alternative jetstream

1. climatologyAny of the high-speed, high-altitude air currents that circle the Earth in a westerly direction.
2. Synonym of contrail; a flow of exhaust gasses from a jet engine.

   Synonyms: contrail

3. biologyThe high-speed, continuous spray of waste fluid (urine) emitted from the back ends of adult cicadas; rather than the small, individual droplets produced by most other insects.

   Researchers say cicadas are the only insects known to pee in a jet stream.

   2024 May 17, Martha Quillin, “Oh yuck! Those loud cicadas also pee like pressure washers, say researchers”, in The News & Observer

   3 more examples

   Cicadas Aren’t Just Noisy – They Also Pee In Jet Streams Like Elephants

   2024 March 16, Holly Large, “Cicadas Aren’t Just Noisy – They Also Pee In Jet Streams Like Elephants”, in IFL Science

   [...] cicadas eliminate waste in the form of urine, and with more force than their size would suggest. Scientists recently revealed the insects hold the record for “strongest urine jet stream” of any studied animal relative to its size.

   2024 March 19, Marisa Rodriguez, “Beware: Cicadas could pee on you when they surface this spring”, in WGN9, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2024

   Scientists who study such things have found that cicadas urinate in a jet stream because they consume an incredible volume of fluid.

   2024 May 14, Jimmy Robinson, “Cicadas pee at 10 feet per second: Get ready for 'cicada rain'”, in WLTX