A
scientist believed
that a frogs’ legs
were related to the
ability of the frog
to hear. He put a
frog on the table
and smacked his
hands together. The
frog jumped. He
removed one of the
frog’s legs. Smacked
his hands and the
frog jumped. He cut
off another leg and
the frog still
jumped with the
sudden noise, he cut
off the third leg
and the frog when
startled tried to
jump. The amputation
of the last leg
resulted in no jump
of the frog with
noise of sudden
clapping. Therefore
a frog with no legs
cannot hear. The
scientist was right!
Which makes about as
much sense as this
story..
The California
Institute of
Technology has just
completed a study to
determine why it is
so difficult to swat
flies. I am certain
there is a
government grant in
this
somewhere….there has
to be, no sane
person would pay
good money for this
information.
Government money or
tax credits….not a
for profit
assignment.
Anyway, this
institution was
interested in
knowing why flies
were able to avoid
being hit by a fly
swatter. They had
always thought the
flies flew away from
the impending
danger, but after a
long period of
research they found
that the flies used
their legs to jump
away from any
approaching danger.
Fascinating isn’t
it?
The neurochemistry
of the fly’s brain
has been studied for
a long period of
time. I bet this
makes for clever
repartee at cocktail
parties.
“So, what do you
do?”
“I’m a scientist….”
“How interesting,
what do you study?”
“The brains of dead
flies.”
“Oh…” and they walk
away…..
Yes, science has
once again proven
that nothing is too
far fetched to turn
into a research
project.
The scientists in
this report stated
that the flies were
able to detect an
object approaching
them about 200
milliseconds before
the object struck.
Then they were able
to push off with
their legs and then
fly away safely.
Here’s where it gets
crazy.
If the fly is being
threatened from the
front the fly moves
its middle legs
forward and jumps
backward. If the
threat is from the
back, then the legs
are moved backward
and the fly jumps
forwards. I don’t
think you will
surprised to learn
that if approached
from one side or
another, the fly
will jump to the
opposite side in
order to escape.
Not happy enough
over this
information, the
scientists went
further and cut off
the fly’s legs. When
threatened, the fly
still leaned in that
direction and used
its wings to escape
being swatted.
When its wings were
cut off, the fly
used what ever legs
were left to jump
clear.
They didn’t say
this, but I imagine
if both the fly’s
wings and legs were
cut of, the fly was
squashed. At least I
would think so, but
then again I’m not a
scientist, so what
do I know? Does PETA
care about cruelty
to insects?
The article ended by
saying that this
study was intended
to develop research
to aid in the
building of robotic
insects.
Anyone want to bet
this is related to
some defense
program? I think we
can see this.
So, if building a
robotic insect is
the ultimate goal,
do you think these
researchers really
believe that someone
might want to use a
fly swatter on a
robot? I mean, come
on, are they
planning on building
eavesdropping
mosquitoes or camera
carrying bumblebees?
After I wrote this,
I got a sudden chill
and realized there
was a stray fly in
this room. Not that
I’m paranoid, but
he/she seems to be
buzzing my computer
screen more than
usual. I think I’ll
cut this one short
and quit just to be
on the safe side.
George Orwell would
be proud…..I suppose
it is true…big
brother is watching.
Be careful….the wasp
you think is
innocently building
his nest may have a
hidden microphone
and is listening to
every word you say..
