Why do penguins sway when they walk? Uncover the science behind it
Recently, a short video of a penguin walking went viral on social media, triggering heated discussions among netizens about the unique gait of penguins. Why do penguins sway from side to side when they walk? Is this gait really inefficient? This article will combine hot topics and scientific research data on the Internet in the past 10 days to reveal the secret of penguin walking.
1. Data statistics on hot topics across the entire network
| platform | Related topics | amount of discussion | heat peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| #Penguin walks like he’s drunk# | 128,000 | 2023-11-15 | |
| Tik Tok | Penguin walking collection | 56 million views | 2023-11-18 |
| Station B | Analysis of Penguin Walking Mechanics | 893,000 views | 2023-11-16 |
| Zhihu | Why do penguins walk like this? | 324 answers | 2023-11-14 |
2. Scientific analysis of penguin gait
According to the latest animal movement research report released by Oxford University:
| Observation indicators | penguin | other birds | Discrepancy rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| stride length | 8-12cm | 15-25cm | -40% |
| energy consumption | 0.3J/kg/m | 0.5J/kg/m | -40% |
| Body swing range | 20-25° | 5-10° | +300% |
Study points out that penguins' wagging gait is actuallyEvolved energy saving strategies. Its short leg structure and center of gravity position determine:
1. Swinging left and right can reduce the fluctuation of the center of gravity in the vertical direction.
2. Convert part of the kinetic energy into potential energy storage
3. Can maintain better stability in ice environment
3. Top 5 hotly discussed opinions among netizens
| opinion type | Proportion | Typical comments |
|---|---|---|
| Cute and cute | 42% | "Like a little drunk guy in a suit" |
| Questioning exercise efficiency | 28% | "Aren't you tired from walking like this?" |
| bionics applications | 15% | "Robots can learn this gait" |
| Evolutionary Discussion | 10% | "Swimming must have affected the way you walk." |
| other | 5% | Including PS creation, film and television images, etc. |
4. The latest explanation from zoologists
Professor Zhang from the China Polar Research Center emphasized in a live broadcast on November 17:
• The gait of a penguin isThe perfect balance of aquatic adaptations and terrestrial mobility
• The amplitude of swaying is proportional to body size (Emperor Penguin > Adélie Penguin)
• Energy consumption when walking on snow is 27% lower than walking in a straight line
• This method of movement dates back to ancestral species 50 million years ago
5. Related extension hotspots
Related hot spots across the network during the same period also include:
- #Polar Bear Will Shake When He Walks# (Tik Tok hot list 11/19)
- The animated film "Penguin Highway" is a revival craze (No. 3 on Bilibili's weekly list)
- Antarctic scientific research station live broadcast of penguins returning to their nests (viewed more than 8 million times)
To sum up, the penguin's signature gait is not only a symbol of cuteness, but also the wisdom of natural selection. This seemingly clumsy way of moving is actually a precisely calculated energy-saving solution, once again confirming Darwin's theory of "survival of the fittest". As netizens joked: "It's not that they don't move well, it's that humans haven't learned to appreciate this advanced move."
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