The Physics of Butterfly Wings

(johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com)

11 points | by boringg 4 days ago ago

3 comments

  • jethkl 11 minutes ago

    I thought the article would discuss physics of flight, but it's about physics of iridescence. Cool, but not what I wanted. I've seen butterflies fly in a stiff wind. It seems impossible even when you watch it. I was hoping for some insight into that.

  • 11235813213455 an hour ago

    The most beautiful flying creature imo, they fly almost effortlessly. I often work remotely in the nature, standing hours in front of my laptop, and sometimes a butterfly or a dragonfly lands on my arm or shoulder, and stays a while. When you think about it, it's probably the safest place for them, since their predators (lizards, ..) don't come close to humans

    • mistrial9 44 minutes ago

      Those two, butterfly and dragonfly, could hardly be more different - sort of humorous to put those two creatures in the same thought. Dragonfly is the most accurate predator in the whole animal kingdom.. making falcons and large cats look like beginners. Meanwhile the butterfly is unable to hunt at all, a truly powerful "changeling", starting life as a worm-like thing.