5 ms·

Why fly or swim when you can jump? Ask the springtail

32 points by Hooke 4y ago

TheRealPomax 4y ago
Because as always, the problem isn't the jumping part, it's the landing part. If you can hit something at terminal velocity and be fine, jumping is a truly excellent idea. If you can't, let's just say that evolution stops with you.
- 6stringmerc 4y ago
  As Method Man once chided, "want to jump off a building / just to see who hits the hardest?" Disclosure: the next line is "who on the short yellow bus / tryin' a get retarded"
spywaregorilla 4y ago
I feel like the title is backwards. The spring tail does not choose to fly or swim?
aliqot 4y ago
These little guys are amazing for mildew, mold, and other pest control in garden settings. Springtails, isopods, moisture, decaying organic matter, baby you got a party startin! I'd imagine they got jumping as a survival trait to move out of concentrated areas and eat more.
ellyagg 4y ago
Compare to these toads that jump, but comically badly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ngnnhcT-s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ngnnhcT-s
- piceas 4y ago
  The video links to a good article about the paper. I like that they used micro ct scans and returned the samples to where they were collected. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/miniature-frogs-set-record-as-first-vertebrates-to-lose-the-ability-to-balance/ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/miniature-frogs-se... "Semicircular canal size constrains vestibular function in miniaturized frogs" https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn1104 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn1104
dugmartin 4y ago
The AntLab channel on YouTube has a great video on springtails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXeSnWY6DNc&ab_channel=AntLab https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXeSnWY6DNc&ab_channel=AntLa... In general AntLab has awesome content, for instance the slowmo moth and butterfly video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCQoRpStF4M&ab_channel=AntLab https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCQoRpStF4M&ab_channel=AntLa...
AHOHA 4y ago
I do robotics for living, and while that is an impressive concept, I can't think of any practical use case of that..
- onemoresoop 4y ago
  Active sieves for recycling purposes or sorting facilities?
- KineticLensman 4y ago
  Scattering micro-sensors whose orientation is important.
AlexandrB 4y ago
Springtails are wonderful little critters that come in a variety of shapes and colors. If you have a few plants or a planted terrarium in your home, you probably have some of them sharing your living space. There's a great blog that has beautiful macro photography of springtails from around the world: https://www.chaosofdelight.org/collembola-springtails https://www.chaosofdelight.org/collembola-springtails

32 points by Hooke 4y ago

Because as always, the problem isn't the jumping part, it's the landing part. If you can hit something at terminal velocity and be fine, jumping is a truly excellent idea. If you can't, let's just say that evolution stops with you.

6stringmerc 4y ago
As Method Man once chided, "want to jump off a building / just to see who hits the hardest?" Disclosure: the next line is "who on the short yellow bus / tryin' a get retarded"

spywaregorilla 4y ago

I feel like the title is backwards. The spring tail does not choose to fly or swim?

aliqot 4y ago

These little guys are amazing for mildew, mold, and other pest control in garden settings. Springtails, isopods, moisture, decaying organic matter, baby you got a party startin! I'd imagine they got jumping as a survival trait to move out of concentrated areas and eat more.

ellyagg 4y ago

Compare to these toads that jump, but comically badly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ngnnhcT-s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ngnnhcT-s

piceas 4y ago
The video links to a good article about the paper. I like that they used micro ct scans and returned the samples to where they were collected. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/miniature-frogs-set-record-as-first-vertebrates-to-lose-the-ability-to-balance/ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/miniature-frogs-se... "Semicircular canal size constrains vestibular function in miniaturized frogs" https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn1104 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn1104

dugmartin 4y ago

The AntLab channel on YouTube has a great video on springtails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXeSnWY6DNc&ab_channel=AntLab https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXeSnWY6DNc&ab_channel=AntLa... In general AntLab has awesome content, for instance the slowmo moth and butterfly video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCQoRpStF4M&ab_channel=AntLab https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCQoRpStF4M&ab_channel=AntLa...

AHOHA 4y ago

I do robotics for living, and while that is an impressive concept, I can't think of any practical use case of that..

onemoresoop 4y ago
Active sieves for recycling purposes or sorting facilities?
KineticLensman 4y ago
Scattering micro-sensors whose orientation is important.

AlexandrB 4y ago

Springtails are wonderful little critters that come in a variety of shapes and colors. If you have a few plants or a planted terrarium in your home, you probably have some of them sharing your living space. There's a great blog that has beautiful macro photography of springtails from around the world: https://www.chaosofdelight.org/collembola-springtails https://www.chaosofdelight.org/collembola-springtails