Science News

The key to keeping a fly flying – and its distinctive buzzing sound – is a gene called Spalt, which German researchers say is essential for superfast muscles and could have important medical implications for humans.

To improve the next generation of insect-size flying machines, Johns Hopkins engineers have been aiming high-speed video cameras at some of the prettiest bugs on the planet.

Articles about robotics: http://www.scoop.it/t/science-news?tag=robotics

Quantum mechanics is usually associated with weird and counterintuitive phenomena we can't observe in real life. But it turns out that quantum processes can occur in living organisms, too, and with very concrete consequences. Some species of birds, for example, use quantum mechanics to navigate. And as Plus found out at a conference on quantum physics and the nature of reality, which took place in Oxford in September, studying these little creatures' quantum compass may help us achieve the holy grail of computer science: building a quantum computer.