Do Flies Live in Slow Motion?
WouterDid you know that flies experience time differently from other animals? Even bullets appear to fly slowly to them. Their metabolism, size, and sensory system may account for the way flies perceive time. Moreover, flies can outmaneuver even a deadly bug-zapper light.
If this is true, then flies may have evolved fast reactions as a result of predatory behavior. For example, flies that have been chased by birds have evolved faster reactions to escape these predators. Similarly, predatory flies have evolved more powerful eyes, allowing them to spot their prey faster.
Flies have a faster critical flicker fusion rate, which is the speed at which they process images. Their brains process these images faster than those of humans. A recent study by Professor Roger Hardie examined flies and their eyes. The researchers conducted an experiment to determine the flicker fusion rate in flies.
The answer to the question, do flies live in slow motion, might surprise you. Flies have compound eyes that produce images from multiple facets. These facets capture light and focus it onto a cluster of photoreceptors. Each of these facets forms one pixel of the flies’ vision. However, flies’ tiny heads can only house a small number of facets. Despite the fact that flies can see in slow motion, they can process fast movements with a high level of accuracy.
In addition to their mechanical responses, flies also execute intricate flying maneuvers in order to avoid being squashed. When a threat approaches, they freeze and then rapidly move their legs and wings to get out of the way. They can even roll upwards 90 degrees in a single half second.
