Comments on: Scientists Glean Secrets of Flight From Birds, Bats, and Bugs http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Lilla Wigand http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7316 Lilla Wigand Sat, 13 Aug 2011 21:32:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7316 AGHHHH!!!!!! the nation's not the same while not TED his particular bizarre observations and even quiteness: (TTTEEEEDDDDD!!!!!!! AGHHHH!!!!!! the nation’s not the same while not TED his particular bizarre observations and even quiteness: (TTTEEEEDDDDD!!!!!!!

]]> By: Robert Mendez http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7315 Robert Mendez Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:53:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7315 Biologist's often chalk up questions about why nature does not cover a particular innovation to historical limitations. They seem to say that other factors would either eliminate a particular permutation, very early on, or, for another different set of reasons, not allow it to pass on genes for perhaps pragmatic reasons. Wings in nature seem to have covered many of the possible strategies, from humming birds to underwater fliers, and the Burgess Shale seems to have lots of critters who no doubt had unique propulsion systems. But the most successful and most abundant critters of all are certainly the masters of flight of the insect world. Soon, they will have it all to themselves. Biologist’s often chalk up questions about why nature does not cover a particular innovation to historical limitations. They seem to say that other factors would either eliminate a particular permutation, very early on, or, for another different set of reasons, not allow it to pass on genes for perhaps pragmatic reasons. Wings in nature seem to have covered many of the possible strategies, from humming birds to underwater fliers, and the Burgess Shale seems to have lots of critters who no doubt had unique propulsion systems. But the most successful and most abundant critters of all are certainly the masters of flight of the insect world. Soon, they will have it all to themselves.

]]> By: John Mitchell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7314 John Mitchell Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:12:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7314 Nature has a rotating wing in the form of the Maple Key or Sycamore Seed and what's interesting about that is that if a Maple Key is overlaid on a Fly's wing they are fundamentally the same in profile and in design. Nature has a rotating wing in the form of the Maple Key or Sycamore Seed and what’s interesting about that is that if a Maple Key is overlaid on a Fly’s wing they are fundamentally the same in profile and in design.

]]> By: kiflom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7313 kiflom Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:33:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7313 this website is helpful for engineers this website is helpful for engineers

]]> By: R http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7312 R Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:13:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7312 The bacterial flagellum and its rotary propulsion comes to mind (although it's obviously not used for flight). http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v4/n10/box/nrmicro1493_BX1.html I hope they continue pursuing rotary flight, it may someday enable human flight... The bacterial flagellum and its rotary propulsion comes to mind (although it’s obviously not used for flight). http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v4/n10/box/nrmicro1493_BX1.html

I hope they continue pursuing rotary flight, it may someday enable human flight…

]]> By: FILTHpig http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7311 FILTHpig Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:29:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7311 I wish I evolved a rotery blade on my back. It'd make my commute so much easier. I wish I evolved a rotery blade on my back. It’d make my commute so much easier.

]]> By: Matt Tarditti http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7310 Matt Tarditti Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:13:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7310 Amphiox, I wondered the same thing. However, to exploit your logic, think about the analogous wheel vs. walking. Nature never created a wheeled animal, but obviously a wheeled robot (Roomba) is much easier to control than a walking one (Asimo). Nature doesn't seem to go for easier to control - I would think energy conservation would be the guiding principle. As such, a FW is much more efficient (I think?) than a RW. But the trade off in control scheme for a mechanical FW is a tough hurdle. Amphiox, I wondered the same thing. However, to exploit your logic, think about the analogous wheel vs. walking. Nature never created a wheeled animal, but obviously a wheeled robot (Roomba) is much easier to control than a walking one (Asimo).
Nature doesn’t seem to go for easier to control – I would think energy conservation would be the guiding principle. As such, a FW is much more efficient (I think?) than a RW. But the trade off in control scheme for a mechanical FW is a tough hurdle.

]]> By: Kin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7309 Kin Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:57:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7309 Amphiox. It's called an axle. Hard to make of flesh. Especially, because it has to be a useful apendenge for millions of years before it becomes more and more rotar like. Plus, the very system of muscles would be different. Perhaps you could have the standard muscle contraction that would give it, the independent axis of the rotary blade, a push along the side, but I don't see it being efficient. Amphiox. It’s called an axle. Hard to make of flesh. Especially, because it has to be a useful apendenge for millions of years before it becomes more and more rotar like.

Plus, the very system of muscles would be different. Perhaps you could have the standard muscle contraction that would give it, the independent axis of the rotary blade, a push along the side, but I don’t see it being efficient.

]]> By: amphiox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7308 amphiox Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:16:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7308 It is interesting, I think, to speculate as to why there are no rotary wing organisms in nature. Four times, powered flight evolved independently and all four times flapping wing systems evolved. If RW aircraft are easier to control than FW aircraft, then why wasn't this advantage ever exploited in nature? What were the contingencies that prevented the evolution of rotating wings? It is interesting, I think, to speculate as to why there are no rotary wing organisms in nature. Four times, powered flight evolved independently and all four times flapping wing systems evolved. If RW aircraft are easier to control than FW aircraft, then why wasn’t this advantage ever exploited in nature? What were the contingencies that prevented the evolution of rotating wings?

]]> By: Nick http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7307 Nick Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:12:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/09/scientists-glean-secrets-of-flight-from-birds-bats-and-bugs/#comment-7307 Pffft. Dune-style ornithopters, here we come! Pffft.

Dune-style ornithopters, here we come!

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