Comments on: The Flesh of Physics http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/ A blog about life, past and future. Written by DISCOVER contributing editor and columnist Carl Zimmer. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:18 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: BThirkield http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-16314 BThirkield Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:08:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-16314 I have never considered the physics-side of biology! It is refreshing to know that such a difficult subject can be applied to practically any other area of knowledge in ways which we underestimate. After reading this, I can better understand the relationship between form and function, especially when it comes to animals and as it relates even to humans. It was a pleasure reading this! I have never considered the physics-side of biology! It is refreshing to know that such a difficult subject can be applied to practically any other area of knowledge in ways which we underestimate. After reading this, I can better understand the relationship between form and function, especially when it comes to animals and as it relates even to humans. It was a pleasure reading this!

]]> By: How To Be A Bat [Life in Motion] | The Loom | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-15836 How To Be A Bat [Life in Motion] | The Loom | Discover Magazine Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:46:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-15836 [...] found that New Zealand short-tailed bats walk comfortably on a treadmill, using the same pendulum-like movements that other walking mammals use to save on energy. But when other mammals have to move faster, they [...] [...] found that New Zealand short-tailed bats walk comfortably on a treadmill, using the same pendulum-like movements that other walking mammals use to save on energy. But when other mammals have to move faster, they [...]

]]> By: Cuttlefish http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14473 Cuttlefish Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:06:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14473 http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/2009/01/walking-walk.html I thought I’d take an afternoon and visit the museum I’d heard they had some new things, and I thought I’d like to see ‘em One skeleton, a walking dog, was what I liked the best— But its front was moving eastward, while its back was moving west! The skeletons of dinosaurs were also really neat Though something seemed a little wrong in where they put their feet The tails looked right, the ribs were right, the spine, the head, the mouth— But their front feet pointed northward, while their back feet pointed south! I figured a museum ought to know which way is right, So I walked a little differently when I went home that night Now I’m flummoxed and I’m puzzled, and I feel like such a dork— See, I’ve one foot in Seattle, and the other in New York. http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/2009/01/walking-walk.html

I thought I’d take an afternoon and visit the museum
I’d heard they had some new things, and I thought I’d like to see ‘em
One skeleton, a walking dog, was what I liked the best—
But its front was moving eastward, while its back was moving west!
The skeletons of dinosaurs were also really neat
Though something seemed a little wrong in where they put their feet
The tails looked right, the ribs were right, the spine, the head, the mouth—
But their front feet pointed northward, while their back feet pointed south!
I figured a museum ought to know which way is right,
So I walked a little differently when I went home that night
Now I’m flummoxed and I’m puzzled, and I feel like such a dork—
See, I’ve one foot in Seattle, and the other in New York.

]]> By: Just A Theory » Weekly Roundup: Biomech, Beats and Beeb edition http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14458 Just A Theory » Weekly Roundup: Biomech, Beats and Beeb edition Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:57:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14458 [...] Zimmer over at Discover magazine has a really interesting post about biomechanics - the study of life in motion. It began in 1872 [...] [...] Zimmer over at Discover magazine has a really interesting post about biomechanics – the study of life in motion. It began in 1872 [...]

]]> By: Dani Long http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14443 Dani Long Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:31:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14443 Update to my own inquiry: after looking at giraffe videos on YouTube, I realized that they walk just like the diagram shows (the footfalls of hind and front feet on the same side happen a bit closer in time than those of the walking horse). Update to my own inquiry: after looking at giraffe videos on YouTube, I realized that they walk just like the diagram shows (the footfalls of hind and front feet on the same side happen a bit closer in time than those of the walking horse).

]]> By: Dani Long http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14418 Dani Long Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:27:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14418 I wonder, do giraffes break the rules? Their movements seem similar to the example of the pace horses (but they do their same-side leg movements naturally, because of their leg/back length ratio). Also, the T. rex video was fascinating and surprising -- I'd always imaged them to have longer strides. This fellow looked to me almost as though he was tiptoeing. Did they never fully extend their 'knee' joints? Great article! I wonder, do giraffes break the rules? Their movements seem similar to the example of the pace horses (but they do their same-side leg movements naturally, because of their leg/back length ratio).

Also, the T. rex video was fascinating and surprising — I’d always imaged them to have longer strides. This fellow looked to me almost as though he was tiptoeing. Did they never fully extend their ‘knee’ joints?

Great article!

]]> By: Chloe Sharrocks » Toymakers Ignore Science http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14415 Chloe Sharrocks » Toymakers Ignore Science Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:51:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14415 [...] more about the biomechanics should read the article on Discover Magazine’s website called “The Flesh of Physics” which has some great graphical illustrations and also some slow-motion video clips of horses [...] [...] more about the biomechanics should read the article on Discover Magazine’s website called “The Flesh of Physics” which has some great graphical illustrations and also some slow-motion video clips of horses [...]

]]> By: Michael D. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14407 Michael D. Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:47:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14407 Saw a special on the Animal Planet the other night about Whippets (small greyhound-like dogs). During their running cycle, all four feet are off the ground twice, once when the legs come together, like the horse, and once when the legs are outstretched, Superman-style. I suspect this may also be the case with cheetahs and perhaps greyhounds as well. Saw a special on the Animal Planet the other night about Whippets (small greyhound-like dogs). During their running cycle, all four feet are off the ground twice, once when the legs come together, like the horse, and once when the legs are outstretched, Superman-style. I suspect this may also be the case with cheetahs and perhaps greyhounds as well.

]]> By: The Ridger http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14404 The Ridger Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:42:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14404 The horse in the video is galloping, not walking. That is a different gait. The horse in the video is galloping, not walking. That is a different gait.

]]> By: Davi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14398 Davi Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:17:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14398 In defense of the anatomists, it seems possible that the best anatomical illustration (maximum density of detail, clearly portrayed) might sometimes not be the most biomechanically realistic. In defense of the anatomists, it seems possible that the best anatomical illustration (maximum density of detail, clearly portrayed) might sometimes not be the most biomechanically realistic.

]]> By: Rawdge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14394 Rawdge Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:26:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14394 Is it just me, or is the horse in that YouTube video not following the rules as described? From what I can see, it looks like its pattern goes RH, LH, RF, LF. Am I missing something? Or is there any particular reasoning behind why there might be the discrepancy? Is it just me, or is the horse in that YouTube video not following the rules as described? From what I can see, it looks like its pattern goes RH, LH, RF, LF. Am I missing something? Or is there any particular reasoning behind why there might be the discrepancy?

]]> By: The Ridger http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/comment-page-1/#comment-14375 The Ridger Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:11:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/01/26/the-flesh-of-physics/#comment-14375 PS - "This will be the first of what I hope is a long line of blog posts about life in motion, illustrated with moving images that Muybridge could not imagine." Yay! Can't wait! PS – “This will be the first of what I hope is a long line of blog posts about life in motion, illustrated with moving images that Muybridge could not imagine.”

Yay! Can’t wait!

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