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What do dandelion seeds and the Wright brothers have in common? They both invented a new form of flight … kind of.
A new discovery from researchers at the University of Edinburgh has revealed that the amazing flying ability of dandelion seeds is the result of a form that has never been seen before in nature. Researchers found that this plant – one of the world's best natural fliers – utilizes the movement of air and its parachute-shaped bundle of bristles. These seeds can be traced by the power of wind.
In their study, the research team found that a ring-shaped bubble forms the air parachute structure of dandelion seeds' bristles. This increases the drag of each seed's descent to the ground. The scientists have named this air bubble the "separated vortex ring."
Image Credit: Cathal Cummins
The amount of air flowing through the ring – which is one of the most important factors in the history of flight, and it is important for keeping the bubble stable. According to the research, this flight is more efficient than what can do with conventional parachute design.
Researchers believe that their study, published in the journal Nature, could lead to the development of small-scale drones that require little to no power consumption. These types of drones could be used for remote sensing or air pollution monitoring.
"Taking a closer look at the ingenious structures in nature – like the dandelion's parachute – can reveal novel insights, "says Dr. Cathal Cummings of the University of Edinburgh's Schools of Biological Sciences and Engineering. "We found a natural solution for that minimizes the material and energy costs, which can be applied to engineering of sustainable technology."
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by Connor Ertz, Earth.com Staff Writer
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