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According to a new study from the University of Edinburgh, a ring-shaped air bubble forms as the air moves between the bristles, thus reinforcing the resistance which slows down their descent. Credit: Naomi Nakayami
The extraordinary flying ability of dandelion seeds is made possible thanks to a form of flight never before seen in nature, revealed research.
The discovery, which confirms the common plant among the best travelers in the world, shows that the movement of air around and inside its parachute-shaped bundle of bristles allows the seeds to travel great distances. , often a kilometer or more, fully kept afloat by wind energy.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have conducted experiments to better understand why dandelion seeds fly so well, while their parachute structure is largely made up of empty spaces.
Their study revealed that a ring-shaped air bubble forms as the air passes through the hairs, reinforcing the resistance that slows the descent of each seed to the ground.
This form of recently discovered air bubble – which scientists have dubbed the separate vortex ring – is physically separated from the bristles and stabilized by the air flowing through it.
The amount of air flowing through, which is essential to keep the bubble stable and directly above the seed in flight, is precisely controlled by the spacing of the bristles.
This mechanism of flight of the bristled parachute underlies the regular flight of the seeds. According to research, it is four times more effective than is possible with conventional parachute design.
When dandelion seeds fly, an air bubble forms in the form of a ring when the air passes through the hairs, which accentuates the resistance which slows down their descent. Credit: Cathal Cummins
The researchers suggest that the porous dandelion parachute could inspire the development of small drones requiring little or no power consumption. Such drones could be useful for remote sensing or monitoring air pollution.
The study, published in Nature, was funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Royal Society.
Dr. Cathal Cummins, who led the study at the School of Biological Sciences and Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, said: "By taking a closer look at the ingenious structures of nature, like the dandelion parachute , can reveal solution for theft that minimizes hardware and energy costs, which can be applied to the engineering of sustainable technology. "
A flight study on dandelions revealed a novel form of flight. According to a new study from the University of Edinburgh, a ring-shaped air bubble forms as the air moves between the bristles, thus reinforcing the resistance which slows down their descent. Credit: Cathal Cummins
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More information:
Cathal Cummins et al., A separate vortex ring underlies dandelion theft, Nature (2018). DOI: 10.1038 / s41586-018-0604-2
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