News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Tesla Robotaxi by andsoitis on Friday October 11, 2024 @09:13AM (#41809192)
> Rotation is one of those fundamental things differentiating our technological civilization from Nature.

Rotation is very common in nature.

Planetary rotation, inner-core rotation, spinning galaxies, dung beetle rolling, Keratinocyte migration, Rotifers, spirals, rotational symmetry, etc.

What isn’t common (but not non-existent) is using rotation for locomotion in biology.

Re:Tesla Robotaxi by meow_catrix on Saturday October 12, 2024 @09:36AM (#41818969)
Many plants and trees spread rotating ”helicopter seeds”. Many vines roto-grow themselves around vertical supports. Day flowers rotate to follow the sun.

Apples and oranges fall on the ground and can roll far and wide. Walnuts too.

Partial rotation is still rotation, of course: see animal joints in walk, trot and gallop.

And then there’s the belly-up pig drunk on brewery grain rolling down the hill. That mash packs a wallop!

Re:Tesla Robotaxi by andsoitis on Sunday October 13, 2024 @12:40PM (#41829419)
Yes! Which is why the idea that “ Rotation is one of those fundamental things differentiating our technological civilization from Nature” is not all that useful a statement.
Re:Tesla Robotaxi by K0balt on Sunday October 13, 2024 @06:07PM (#41832120)
Huge swaths of microbes use electrostatic rotary motors driving screw type propellers, so if not say it’s that uncommon.