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Flying Snake Mysteries Revealed

Posted by timothy on from the why-your-attic-sounds-like-slithering dept.

Rambo Tribble writes "Researchers from Virginia Tech are reporting they have uncovered the secrets behind the genus Chrysopelea's aerodynamic feats . These ophidians are capable of gliding some distance while appearing to slither through the air. The BBC's article on the revelations hosts a short video of the phenomenon. At the heart of Chrysopelea's feat is a remarkable ability of the snakes to alter their body's cross-section. Finally, snakes that don't need to be on no stinking plane." The paper [PDF] has some more cool pictures, too.

5 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. I have HAD it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    ...with these monkey-fighting snakes on this Monday to Friday plane!!

  2. Flying Snake Experts? by jennatalia · · Score: 0, Funny

    They should call Lorena Bobbitt.

    1. Re:Flying Snake Experts? by drainbramage · · Score: 3, Funny

      As God is my witness, I thought those things could fly.

      --
      No brain, no pain.
  3. Re:Paper has some cool pictures? by TheloniousToady · · Score: 4, Funny

    Like it or not, pictures are still a more efficient way of communicating data than text. By an order of magnitude.

    You've lost me on that...can you show me a graph?

  4. Re:Paper has some cool pictures? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    sure! how bout a bar graph...

    Efficiency of Medium
    text ##################
    pics ########