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First Gear Mechanism Discovered In Nature

GameboyRMH writes "A gear mechanism has been discovered [paywalled original paper here, for those with access] for the first time in nature in the nymph of the Issus, a small plant-hopping insect common in Europe. It uses the gears to synchronize the movement and power of its hind legs, forcing the legs to propel it in a straight line when jumping, which would otherwise be impossible for the insect if it had to control the timing and force of its leg muscles independently."

7 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. man is still superor... by nblender · · Score: 4, Funny

    Our contraptions have 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and sometimes higher.

  2. Evolution is gearing up for a jump! by solafide · · Score: 3, Funny

    Who knows, maybe next we'll evolve gears to help us reach those things on the top shelf better...

  3. Science rules! ... or not? by paavo512 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Extra credit for the article to put 'microseconds' in quotes! And then explain what it means. Whoa, so we can introduce entire generations in science who have not mastered difficult concepts like 'zero' before (http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1997-02-27/).

  4. Re:B effing S by Antipater · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow, congratulations, you proved all etymologists wrong with three seconds of thought.

    Etymologists?

    --
    Everything is better with chainsaws.
  5. photoshop plz by j_l_larson · · Score: 4, Funny

    Somebody photoshop a top hat, goggles and pocketwatch for the first steampunk insect! http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/056/820/i02/planthopper-insect-leg-gears.jpg?1379008166

  6. If we keep looking... by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Next up: a bug that has Linux. (Not just Linux that has bugs)

  7. Re: B effing S by FuzzMaster · · Score: 5, Funny

    Spouting unscientific nonsense in a crowd of nerds is, by definition, trolling.