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New Theory on Water Strider Propulsion

Posted by michael on from the good-junkyard-wars-challenge dept.

capt.Hij writes "There is an interesting article at the Christian Science Monitor about how water skimmers are able to move the way they do. This new theory debunks the previously accepted theory and answers why smaller, younger water skimmers are also able to move the same way as their elders: 'As he looked into the question, he adds, he learned that the reigning explanation leaves an unsolved puzzle: If these tiny insects propel themselves in the way many researchers think they do, then baby water striders should go nowhere fast.'" There's also a BBC story with pictures.

8 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Duh... by jeffkjo1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Everybody whose anybody knows waterstriders use anti-matter as propulsion.

  2. A challenge by D0wnsp0ut · · Score: 5, Funny

    All I know about water skimmers/skippers is they're a bugger to hit with rocks, unless you get a really big, flat rock and even then you mostly just get yourself wet and still miss the skimmer.

    --
    "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither!"
  3. Wrong. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    They move because they put their faith in jesus and he spirits them along over the water on the wings of christ.

    Damn dude, it said the CHRISTIAN science monitor.

    You remember.. the people who don't believe in evolution? Or stem cell research? Or cloning?

    1. Re:Wrong. by revery · · Score: 4, Funny

      You remember.. the people who don't believe in evolution? Or stem cell research? Or cloning?

      Yeah, those three are the same.

      Do you mean that they don't believe cloning is possible, or that they don't believe evolution is moral?

      --

      I don't believe in you...

    2. Re:Wrong. by Gzip+Christ · · Score: 5, Funny
      That would certainly be most people's first impression, but I find that the CSM is probably the *most* objective reporting I've ever seen to date. There doesn't seem to be any particular bias that I can see. I'm glad I found the CSM, and I really enjoy reading it, even though I'm agnostic. I highly recommend everyone take a look with an open mind.
      I second that. Compared with the mainstream press, it's utterly amazing how objective the Monitor has been throughout the whole water spider controversy.
  4. Re:Now that... by borgboy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nope. It's a feature!

    --
    meh.
  5. Oh my... by tkittel · · Score: 5, Funny

    It seems that we have a Christian source of information related to walking on water?

    At least it is their own IP :-)

  6. Re:Water Tension by srw · · Score: 4, Funny

    > Now all we need is to figure out how to make water have enough tension to hold a person. Hrmm...

    Simple. This happens naturally where I live. I simply have to wait until, say, mid-November. The surface tension remains high until some time in spring. It only works for water kept outside or in an unheated building.

    -srw