SciShow Tangents cover image

Rubber

SciShow Tangents

00:00

Kushballs

Researchers at Harvard's Weiss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering created a device that demonstrated that maybe bird singing isn't really as complicated as we think. The researchers then created what they called a minimal mathematical model that allowed them to mimic bird songs and, well, here are the results. What's the song of a real bingalese finch? So not bad after all, I guess. If all it takes is a simple mathematical model and a rubber tube,. birds might be using a simpler on-off muscle kind of situation that creates waves in their really rubbery searingces.

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app