|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Just a brief glance looks fascinating. Thanks, Dr Bill.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
I'd just like to understand how those fast fliers navigate through the woods so quickly without apparently hitting themselves in the head with so many branches. I sure as heck have problems sometimes woods navigating at a lethargic pace.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
another great site, Bill! thanks!
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear WW:One of the birds' secrets is the fact that their nerve pathways are relatively short. It takes an appreciable fraction of a second for nerve impulse to travel from brain to an extremity, so small animals can react much sooner than humans can. I think the big dynasaurs must have had to wait a week for message from brain to reach their hind legs. Remember the old parlor trick of telling a kid he can have a dollar hung vertically between his thumb and index finger, if he can close them before dollar drops through them? Kids look very much amazed.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Oh, many thanks, wwh, for that explanation. I have often wondered how in the world birds navigated so quickly through dense woods. The short nerve pathway does make some sense as a theory, so thanks for giving me that fodder to ponder!
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,404
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
350
guests, and
1
robot. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
|