wonder fly

Master of the game

Ever wondered how a fly manages to escape every time you try to swat it? Researchers in the US seem to have an answer to this mystery. They believe that the fly’s sharp brain and ability to plan ahead enable it to avoid getting hit. Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) employed a high speed and high resolution camera to track a fly’s movement. They found that the insect can quickly detect the source of threat and plan an escape route instantly. The experiment revealed that flies assume the pre-flight mode within a span of 100 milliseconds of recognising the swatter and fly to safety. Michael Dickinson of Caltech, whose research appears in the journal Current Biology, said that this sheds light on how fast a fly’s brain can process sensory messages into a suitable motor response. He also added that the best way to swat a fly is to aim at its direction of escape.

turn green

Colour woe

Three polar bears have been confusing visitors at a zoo in Japan. The reason for the confusion is that their fur has turned from white to green. The beasts have changed colour after swimming in an algae-filled pool at the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens. A zoo official said that the algae had entered the open spaces in their fur and got stuck. Warm temperatures in July and August and occasional water changes as a part of the zoo’s conservation drive have led to the growth of the algae. The animals are expected to return to their original colour by November.