This is a wonder of the modern world: Extreme high-speed digital cameras, the kind of stuff that Harold Edgerton became renowned for a mere fifty years ago, are

This is a wonder of the modern world: Extreme high-speed digital cameras, the kind of stuff that Harold Edgerton became renowned for a mere fifty years ago, are now so cheap, easy to use, and sensitive that some guys at MIT can afford to aim one at their cats for extended periods of time on a whim. Back in Edgerton's day you had to take ultra-high-speed photographs using extremely bright strobe lighting. I don't know for sure that he never photographed a cat lapping, but I can't imagine that the typical cat was happy to sit around drinking when strobes were going off and a high-speed film spool was cranking nearby. Plus, there was probably a crazy backlog of other, more serious things to film. So it was probably hard to collect enough data to be sure you knew what was happening. I helped a lab shop for one of these high-speed cameras a few years back. They were not cheap, but they were cheaper than some cars, and they've probably gotten even cheaper since. When these things get to the point that we can all afford one, we are going to have some serious fun. All hail the semiconductor optics folks! Buy one a drink today! ;)