The physics and biology of flying mythical beasts (feat. the yogscast)

TL;DR

Applying physics and biology to fantasy creatures, it is determined that most flying creatures depicted in fantasy, such as dragons and griffins, would not be able to fly based on known biology. However, creatures like wyverns and harpies could potentially exist with modified anatomy.

Transcript

Thanks to brilliant.org for sponsoring this video Fantasy is filled with incredible flying creatures from the dragons of Game of Thrones to the hippogriffs of Harry Potter. They're unlike anything we see in the natural world in both form and size. Thank God. But being both a serious geek and a scientist, I can't help but wonder: Could these creatur... Read More

Key Insights

• 🛸 Applying real physics and biology to fantasy creatures reveals that most flying creatures, such as dragons and griffins, would not be able to fly based on known biology.
• 🛀 Birds and bats have different flight mechanisms, with birds relying on pectoral muscles and bats using their fingers to control the wing membrane for added dexterity.
• 😘 The musculature of creatures with both wings and front legs, like griffins and hippogriffs, does not make sense from a biological standpoint.
• 🪡 The wings of mythical creatures with dragon-like wings, such as cockatrices and wyverns, would need to rely on soaring rather than flapping due to their size.
• 🛀 The Philippine golden-crowned flying fox, the largest known bat, already approaches the theoretical limit for bat wingspan and wingbeat frequency.

Questions & Answers

Q: Based on the study, which type of real-life creatures do birds with wings resemble the most?

Birds with wings in fantasy, such as griffins and hippogriffs, can be compared to medium to large raptors like eagles and hawks, which use a combination of soaring and intermittent flapping for flight.

Q: Why do bats have more dexterity and agility in flight compared to birds?

Bats have more control over their flight due to their wing anatomy, which allows them to manipulate the wing membrane using their fingers. This enables them to make instant turns and movements in the air.

Q: Can mythical creatures with both wings and front legs, like griffins and hippogriffs, fly according to real biology?

No, based on known biology, these creatures would not be able to fly. With front legs, there would be no muscles left to power the wings, making their flight mechanics impossible.

Q: Are there any mythical creatures that could potentially exist based on modified bat biology?

Wyverns, which have wings but no front legs, could potentially exist based on modified bat biology. They could fly in a similar way to condors, relying on soaring and assisted takeoff. Harpies, with their wings as arms, could also be possible with larger wingspans.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Flying fantasy creatures in popular culture, such as dragons and griffins, are unlike anything in the natural world.

• Applying real physics and biology, researchers analyze the wings and musculature of birds and bats to determine if these creatures could exist.

• Birds and bats have different flight mechanisms, but neither can fully explain the flight of large creatures with wings and front legs.