Could You Run on Water?

TL;DR

Animals like basilisks and certain birds have adapted techniques to run on water, but humans would need impossible forces to do so. However, in lower gravity environments like the moon, running on water might be possible.

Transcript

[INTRO + MUSIC] For those of us familiar with a certain magical boarding school, the name basilisk is most likely associated with giant, deadly yellow eyes, and maybe a blood stained sword. But the real basilisk isn't a snake; it's a lizard, and it can't kill you by looking at you. A real life basilisk does have one special power: it can run on wat... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 The real basilisk is a lizard that can run on water, thanks to a combination of surface tension and force generation.
• 👻 Certain birds, like grebes, have specialized feet and leg motions that allow them to run on water during mating rituals.
• 💦 Humans would need impractical forces to run on water on Earth due to gravity and the limitations of human leg muscles.
• 😘 In lower gravity environments like the moon, running on water might be theoretically possible, as demonstrated in a study.
• 😒 Animals that can run on water use various techniques, like increasing surface area, reducing drag, and generating force against gravity.
• 🛝 The attractive forces between molecules in a liquid, like water, are weaker than those in solid ground, causing molecules to slide and not support weight.
• 😒 Animals weighing less than a gram can use strong surface tension to stand still on water, while larger animals need to generate a force to keep most of their body mass above the surface.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do basilisks run on water?

Basilisks have fringed toes that increase their surface area during the slapping phase, and they also generate an air pocket during the stroke to reduce drag, allowing them to run on water.

Q: How do birds like grebes run on water?

Grebes have specialized feet with lobes on the side of each toe and flat toe lobes. When they draw their feet out of water, they fold them up into a sideways motion, enabling them to run on water during mating rituals.

Q: Why can't humans run on water on Earth?

Humans would need to generate an impossible amount of force and have incredibly large feet to run on water on Earth. The forces required exceed what human leg muscles can produce.

Q: Is it possible for humans to run on water in lower gravity environments?

Yes, in a study where people were simulated to experience lower gravity and wore small, rigid fins, they were able to run on water. On the moon, which has about 17% of Earth's gravity, it would be theoretically possible to run on water.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Basilisks, a type of lizard, can run on water using a combination of surface tension and force generation from their limbs.

• Birds like grebes also have specialized feet and legs that allow them to run on water during mating rituals.

• Humans would need impractical forces to run on water on Earth, but in lower gravity environments like the moon, it might be theoretically possible.