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Scientists Train Spider to Jump on Command

Scientists successfully trained a spider to jump on command. And the world is no longer a safe place.

In an effort to understand the evolution of jumping spiders (a family of more than 5,800 species), researchers at the University of Manchester examined the arachnids’ movement and behavior.

Their advanced study—the first to use 3D CT scanning and high-speed, high-resolution cameras—unlocked secrets that could lead to a new class of agile micro-robots.

Yay?

Full Article at GEEK.com

Since when has the world been safe? Certainly not as long as I’VE been on it, let alone Sarge... or Al... ooor Dinky...

GlytchMeister wrote:Since when has the world been safe? Certainly not as long as I’VE been on it, let alone Sarge... or Al... ooor Dinky...

Caveman. Rock. Bash neighbor.

"Next, on COPS..."

It ain't never changed - just the threats and levels do. AIn't nobody getting out of this alive, so 'safe' is a nearly meaningless term.

Evaluate the relative threat levels and go from there. If it's got 'Darwin" written all over it, don't.

EDIT: Or if you do, at least have the decency to say "Hold my beer. Watch this." so the spectators can gird their loins appropriately.

I once trained a large jumping spider to come when I "called" it by tapping on the windowsill. These people trained one to jump on command. Now if I can get spiders to jump in a specified direction according to verbal commands or other signals, then I'll be ready to start carrying around specially trained spiders on my shoulders to leap at people who I want to stop bothering me.

"Hey there, can I interest you in this pamphlet on-"

"Fluffy, thirty degrees to port, attack!" *sproing!*

Catawampus wrote:"Fluffy, thirty degrees to port, attack!" *sproing!*

Fluffy. Of course, Fluffy. Why not Fluffy... Makes as much sense as any other name, right?

It's like one of those misleading names you hear about... Like Brutus, who is just about the sweetest dog, while Button is the most vicious...

lake_wrangler wrote:

Catawampus wrote:"Fluffy, thirty degrees to port, attack!" *sproing!*

Fluffy. Of course, Fluffy. Why not Fluffy... Makes as much sense as any other name, right?

It's like one of those misleading names you hear about... Like Brutus, who is just about the sweetest dog, while Button is the most vicious...

Well, some spiders are furry... but I dunno about fluffy.

I used to know a lady who had a snake named Fluffy and a cat named Spike.

Nobody’s gonna talk about how Hagrid named his ferocious Cerberus “Fluffy” and his extremely dangerous Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon “Norbert”... and his big but cowardly and goofy marshmallow of a dog “Fang”?

Nobody?

GlytchMeister wrote:Nobody?

Nope!

Phyllis Diller was married to Fang. Thats all I got...