walking on water

May 31, 2006 11:48 PM

Walking on Water: How Water Striders and Meniscus climbing insects use surface tension to walk on water.
posted by dhruva (16 comments total)

Perhaps Jesus was an insect?
posted by delmoi at 11:54 PM on May 31, 2006

The pictures in the locomotion section are great. Please don't tell me that they censored the picture of the water strider supporting the weight of a companion.
posted by tellurian at 11:58 PM on May 31, 2006

Does water surface tension explain the Jesus Christ lizard?
posted by Balisong at 12:00 AM on June 1, 2006

Oh! I get it, I've just realised they blacked out the eyes too.
posted by tellurian at 12:05 AM on June 1, 2006

Meniscus climbing insect porn!
posted by nonmyopicdave at 12:08 AM on June 1, 2006

Does water surface tension explain the Jesus Christ lizard?

No.....well, sort of. The lizard runs on water by very quickly slapping the water. This generates an air pocket, which I suppose can be argued is held together by the surface tension of the water. However, I don't think this is what you meant by your question. Anyway, they built a robot that walks on water based on the same principle.
posted by quite unimportant at 12:15 AM on June 1, 2006

Dude...those insects are clearly drunk and should not be trusted.
posted by moneyjane at 12:39 AM on June 1, 2006

Do it yourself: Pump-a-bike
posted by missbossy at 1:35 AM on June 1, 2006

Insects generally don't have holes in their feet.
posted by hypersloth at 2:06 AM on June 1, 2006

Aww, the censored mating strider photo in the first link is cute.
posted by hypersloth at 2:10 AM on June 1, 2006

Those vortex photos are cool. I'd love to have a really big one in my living room.
posted by yoga at 5:18 AM on June 1, 2006

Am I the only one curious as to why they censored these? Do their identities need protection?

"Whoa, that's Bill! With his secretary!"

"Do you think his larvae know?"
posted by ninjew at 8:32 AM on June 1, 2006

hypersloth: I saw that too, but instead it just made me sad that we feel the need to censor bug sex.
posted by trigonometry at 3:49 PM on June 1, 2006

Now, this robot, built by my buddy Brian Chan, is the real deal. More links.
posted by breath at 6:19 PM on June 1, 2006

Great post, BTW.
posted by breath at 6:21 PM on June 1, 2006

Fascinating aquabatics. Thanks dhruva. Here are some vids of water walking. Some pics of *under* water walking. And biolocomotion tail walking.

Those wascally MIT students putting anonymity blocks on the mating bugs.
posted by nickyskye at 12:05 AM on June 2, 2006