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Robots That Bounce on Water

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the something-about-tigger-goes-here dept.

inghamb87 writes "The way water striders walk on water was discovered years ago. The insect uses its long legs to help evenly distribute its tiny body weight. The weight is distributed over a large area so that the fragile skin formed by surface tension supports the bug on the water. However, the ability of water striders to jump onto water without sinking has baffled scientists, until now." If nothing less, you need to see the picture: it's awesome.

14 of 137 comments (clear)

  1. Jesus by hernyo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did Jesus use the same technology?

    1. Re:Jesus by pushing-robot · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, that was Mecha-Jesus.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
    2. Re:Jesus by Kranfer · · Score: 4, Funny

      As a jew, I am forced to say yes... along with his Jedi powers of turning water into wine and healing as well. ::smirks::

      --
      -- Josh
      "Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me!" - Pete Conrad
    3. Re:Jesus by Kranfer · · Score: 2, Funny

      I do keep hollywood in mind. Since Jesus used this technology, I now expect a "When Jesus Attacks" to be put on the air, since there is currently a writers strike. Boards below the water is so low tech... a Mech Warrior Jesus Christ is much more interesting to be made into a movie...

      --
      -- Josh
      "Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me!" - Pete Conrad
    4. Re:Jesus by Dr+Caleb · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Last I checked, Jesus was Jewish..."

      What? You actually walked up to him asked him to 'whip it out' and verified his circumcision?

      --
      "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain
  2. Grammar!!! by dsginter · · Score: 4, Funny

    If nothing less, you need to see the picture: it was awesome.

    There. Fixed that for you.

    --
    More
  3. I for one... by Bazman · · Score: 4, Funny

    welcome our new water-walking robotic overlords... with some surface-tension reducing soap :) Muahahahahahah!

    1. Re:I for one... by SQLGuru · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm sorry....all of my foil is being used to make hats.

    2. Re:I for one... by dstiggy · · Score: 2, Funny

      1) Fill a cookie tray with water
      2) Pepper the top of the water in order to *see* the movements of the surface tension
      3) Carefully place a small amount of soap in the center of the tray
      4) Watch the pepper scatter to the edges of the pan as the tension breaks
      5)???
      6)Profit!!!

      fixed that for you
  4. My Life IS RUINED! by explosivejared · · Score: 3, Funny

    All my life I've been waiting to see an awesome picture about FRIKKIN ROBOTS THAT BOUNCE on water, and now it's apparently slashdotted! I'm gonna cry now.

    P.S. Hey taco if this is just some sick joke, and you gave a busted url, I'll kill you! Robots on water... you don't play around with that!

    --
    I got a catholic block.
  5. Great by gowakuwa · · Score: 2, Funny

    So Jesus was an insectoid alien or an intergalactic robot? Either way it had to be hard to intelligently design him, or her.

  6. Never, ever, EVER do that! by Un+pobre+guey · · Score: 5, Funny
    If nothing less, you need to see the picture: it's awesome.

    Never put a line like this in a /. summary. Do you want Congress to pass a law classifying /. as some kind of cyber-terror weapon? You can almost see smoke coming out of the ground around these poor bastards' data center.

  7. Re:Rather short on information... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You left out the most important question of all:

    Does it give you 30 seconds to comply?

  8. Jesus Cyborg (batteries not included) by Bushido+Hacks · · Score: 2, Funny
    Some how I think this robot will be marketed for evangelical purposes. And for that reason IT MUST BE DESTROYED!

    *In the voice of that BS Billy Graham book advert*
    Have you ever wondered why God never allowed for you to have the rich fullfilling life you think deserve? Are you tired of waiting for the rapture for God to smite democrats, Catholics, Muslims, people who hate George Bush, teachers who teach Darwinism, the Internet, and everyone else except for you and all your elitist God-fearing friends?
    Introducing the Billy Graham Jesus Cyborg.
    The Jesus Cyborg has been programmed using Bible technology by scientist who reject Darwinism and embrace Kirk Cameron's Banana ideology. Impress your friends. Forcible convert non-believers to your beliefs. Had enough with UN diplomacy? Send it to the Middle East to blow up Israeli-hating hethens! Use it to protest homosexuality at military funerals. Wherever your need to assert your crazy fundamental religious ideologies, or find the TV remote to watch Fox News, the Jesus Cyborg is there with the good book in one hand, a metal claw in the other, and a 12 gauge shotgun strapped to it back. Best of all It "walks" on water!. You can have your very own Jesus Cyborg for an annual donation to the Crystal Cathedral of $1000

    Warning! The Jesus Cyborg may have grand dillutions of what faith is. Keep indoors at all time and do not let it out side for any reason. Children should be supervised when using Jesus Cyborg as should small animals and the invalid. Jesus Cyborg runs on a combination of batteries and old peoples medication. Jesus Cyborg will generally try to escape the house once a month and try to solicit religious propoganda to the neighbors. If he escapes, contact them immediately and tell them to turn off all the lights. Made in China, so beware of lead paint.
    There is only one question I have for this robot: Would Jesus Cyborg wear a Rolex on His Television Show?
    --
    The Rapture is NOT an exit strategy.