Vivian on 20/3/2014 at 21:01
Hahahhah no. I mean I could make something up about robots if you like. But no, it's pure science. 'Because it's there'. On the other hand, you rarely get anywhere researching only the things you think will have an immediate practical application. Lasers are a perfect example of that. And more on-topic, prosthetic limbs or limb-aids are only going to become more commonplace, so the more we know about limbs in general the better, in that regard.
Nicker on 20/3/2014 at 22:15
Wonderful stuff, thank you. Clicked and shared.
Practical schmactical! I like knowing things just because they can be known. And what's not to love about chickens with faux tails (unless you are a chicken or an animal rights advocate)? It's a brilliant and simple experiment and your article was a great balance of amusement and information.
A question. Did the chickens adapt well to the change in center of mass. You note that they changed how they walked but was it an "improvement" on their usual gait or did they struggle with the change in center of mass? I am curious if there is any evolutionary pressure on wild flightless birds, to shift their center of mass and whether birds like ostriches already have done so?
It's amazing how much dinosaurs have changed since my first exposure to them as enormous waddling, lumbering, splay-legged lizards.
Inline Image:
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/files/2011/07/How-and-Why-Wonder-Book-of-Dinosaurs-July-2011.jpgIn some ways I miss the Saturday matinee variety. There was something about them, some pathos that made them more endearing than the far more capable versions we see today.
Tony_Tarantula on 20/3/2014 at 22:36
Decently written. Not bad.
Looks like you've even attracted some haters in the comments.
Decently
faetal on 20/3/2014 at 23:00
Shared on Facebox. I've got a fair bunch of science and archaeology people on there who will hopefully take note :)
PigLick on 21/3/2014 at 00:34
Dr Vivian is a damned sexy moniker.
demagogue on 21/3/2014 at 02:04
Fun article.
I remember some other article talking about chicken evolution, and IIRC it mentioned things like code for simple teeth are still in their DNA but not active (although they can be turned on), and then some other part about the remnants of ancestral tail vertebrae, or something about losing tail vertebrae being one of the more recent changes and why they were lost, something in that neighborhood. Well if we're having a Q&A session, what are some of the theories why birds lost their teeth & tails.
I do hope somebody cracks the hopping mystery someday.
I love watching sparrows hop with unnatural fascination.
nickie on 21/3/2014 at 07:43
Quote Posted by Vivian
Hahahhah no. I mean I could make something up about robots if you like. But no, it's pure science. 'Because it's there'. On the other hand, you rarely get anywhere researching only the things you think will have an immediate practical application. Lasers are a perfect example of that.
I knew you'd laugh. But that's sort of what I was wondering. Something might have come out of the research, like chickens with tails walking differently were noticeably happier and therefore ended up tastier on the table.
Nicker on 21/3/2014 at 08:01
Quote Posted by nickie
Something might have come out of the research, like chickens with tails walking differently were noticeably happier and therefore ended up tastier on the table.
Plus they are already conveniently configured to be breaded and deep fried then served as fair ground food.
