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Article: UnBEElievable! The humble bee defies all rules of physics to fly. But now a scientist thinks he has found the answer...
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- August 21, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: MICHAEL HANLON
AMONG nature's most incredible machines of the air are insects such as the bumblebee and the housefly.
Typically less than half an inch long, and weighing less than 100th of an ounce, these tiny aeronauts are capable of incredible bursts of speed and manoeuvrability.
Some bees, for instance, can belt along at 40 mph - scaled up, that would be the equivalent of an airliner travelling at more than 100,000mph!
Houseflies can take off backwards and change direction by 90 degrees in a fraction of a second, pulling g-forces that would leave a fighter pilot pounded to pulp.
Insects break all the rules of ...