Tagged: gliding

The Next Generation of UAV

A group of researchers from several American universities have begun a projet to develop a small unmanned aerial vehicle capable of flying like a bird. Lead by Professor Russ Tedrake of MIT they will attempt to build a UAV capable of navigating natural and urban environments at high speeds, much like small birds do. In their initial […]

Evolution of flight : Flying from Gliding

  While many animals are able to fly, birds are the creatures that have mastered flight. They evolved feathers and an aerodynamic body shape. But how exactly did they evolve the ability for complex flight? Were birds first capable of gliding then modified this advantage into powered flight? Or did they begin flapping their wings […]

It’s a Bird; It’s a Plane; It’s a…Cucumber? An Examination of the Stabilizing Characteristics of Alsomitra Macrocarpa

Many are familiar with the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit’s iconic ‘flying wing’ shape. This was the first aircraft to successfully employ the flying wing design. Northrop Grumman chose the flying wing design primarily for its stealth. The flying wing is also very aerodynamically efficient, as the surface of the entire craft is used to produce […]

Mammals: Falling With Style

Sure, we’ve all seen Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear’s continued attempts at flight. We all know that the wings on his back will never allow him to achieve flight in the functional sense. He has no ability to flap or twist his wings to produce lift or thrust, nor does he have engines like an […]

The Pygmy Glider

The pygmy glider, most commonly known as the feather-tail glider, is also known as the flying mouse and its scientific name acrobates pygmaeus. It is the smallest mammalian glider of all. Pygmy gliders can be found in eastern Australia to southeast Australia. They tend to nest up high in trees. They chose their nest solely […]

How different are gliders really?

Flight has always been a dream of mankind to attain. Sadly, we can’t flap wings and produce the amount of lift we need to achieve this kind of prolonged flight, but neither can most flying animals. A lot of animals that we think of as flying actually glide. We have figured out how to make […]

The Microraptor: Missing Link or Evolutionary Dead End?

  Ten years ago a pair of archaeologists dug up a remarkable dinosaur fossil in the Liaoning Province of northeastern China. It appeared to be very similar to other small raptors that had been found around the world. It had a feathered body, adding to the prominent theory that many raptors had feathers. The remarkable aspect of this dinosaur […]

Having Venom Just Wasn’t Enough: The Flying Snake

The ability to glide has evolved separately in a surprising diversity of animals that stretches from reptiles, mammals, frogs, ants, and fish to even some species of squid. One of the more interesting gliders, however, must be the Chrysopelea, often called the “flying snake”.

You’ve Heard of Flying Squirrels, But Have You Heard of Flying Squid?

Many are skeptical of the idea of flying, especially when they are told that animals other than birds or insects are capable of achieving flight. For this reason, the concept of flying squids sounds a little ridiculous. However, squid are accustomed to gliding in water, which means that they are able to use the same techniques […]

Cephalotes atratus, the gliding Darth Vader of the ant world

Convergent evolution is a term used to describe species that have individually evolved to acquire similar biological traits in order to serve the same purpose. Gliding is a befitting example of such evolution – mammals, reptiles, and amphibians alike have all exhibited different means of turning a fall into a smooth, controlled descent, showcasing the […]