Watch a Fly’s Reflexes in Super Slow-Mo: The Science Behind Lightning-Speed Reactions
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Ever wondered just how fast a fly can react to unexpected changes? A fascinating video has resurfaced from an old scientific study, where researchers tested the lightning-fast reflexes of houseflies. In the 1950s, a groundbreaking study published in Science revealed that flies can react to sudden movements in a mere 21 milliseconds—12 times faster than humans.
Fast forward to today, and a new video takes this concept to a whole new level. Using a crossbow to fire an arrow through an orange, the creators put this old study to the test in a modern setting. The results are astonishing: the fly’s reaction was captured at 6000 frames-per-second, showing it took just 8.3 milliseconds to start flapping its wings after the stage was removed.
Curious about how this high-speed experiment was conducted and the surprising insights it provides? Don’t miss out on this incredible footage that showcases the incredible agility of our tiny, winged friends. Click the link to watch the full video and see the science behind the fly’s reflexes in action!
Kate is mom of two rambunctious boys and a self-proclaimed super nerd. With a background in neuroscience, she is passionate about sharing her love of all things STEM with her kids. She loves to find creative ways to teach kids computer science and geek out about coding and math. She has authored several books on coding for kids which can be found at Hachette UK.
