"Jarno Smeets" and the Physics of (True) Human Bird Flight
Jarno Smeets: Not a Bird Jarno SmeetsResident physics dude Adam Weiner shows us what it would really take to lift a human body off the ground, bird-style The notion of a person flying like a bird has universal and enduring appeal, so it's not surprising that the "Human Bird Wings" video from "Jarno Smeets" went viral within a few days. However, now that it has been revealed to be an elaborate hoax, eight months in the making, and now that our dreams have been thusly dashed, let's examine a scientific red flag in the video, one that when pursued bursts the entire fantastical premise: the problem of speed. Watch the video: He really isn't moving very fast when he lifts up off the ground, so it doesn't look quite right. Let's analyze that. When it comes down to it, the deal is this: What we see in the video must obey...