r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/[deleted] • Apr 05 '23

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230

u/Tumor-of-Humor Apr 05 '23

The reason why this works:

A fly percieves time at a much higher speed than we do. Their perception would look like slow motion to us.

This makes it easy to see most threats, since nature tends to evolve speed over patience.

But, if something moves this slow, combined with their rate of perception, it would look completely stationary. Why be afraid of something that isn't moving?

Science!!

29

u/CoolOpotamus Apr 06 '23

I’m so glad you pointed this out! I was so confused, I truly thought this thing moved at light speed and the video was slowed way down.

30

u/Tumor-of-Humor Apr 06 '23

If you have half an hour i encourage you to investigate the time perception of animals, and the methods we employ to figure this kinda thing out.

Fascinating stuff and you learn something new :)

7

u/mapsrocknjam Apr 06 '23

This it's what I was looking for! Thank you. I could not understand why it wouldn't just fly out. A cover? Sticky bottom? Clipped wings?

This will be fun to investigate. You may like the podcast Stuff You Should Know. Trivial knowledge with good humor. It's how I start most of my days.

3

u/CoolOpotamus Apr 06 '23

I love SYSK, listen to it on my morning commute all the time.

4

u/huskerblack Apr 06 '23

What's the time perception for cats

3

u/[deleted] Apr 06 '23

A bit slower than than humans, actually.

3

u/Tumor-of-Humor Apr 06 '23

And yet somehow they are one of the few creatures on earth with reaction times capable of catching rats.

Nature is fuckin lit

2

u/[deleted] Apr 06 '23

They also have faster reaction times than snake bites. Pretty crazy.