Aren't cats able to do that (always land on their feet) because there's something inherently unique about their spines? Surely that's gotta be hard for a human to replicate?

[–] Skua@kbin.earth 46 points 3 days ago (1 children)

A collarbone that isn't attached to any other bones and a very flexible spine. However, while this makes them extremely good at it, the actual motions involved are, as demonstrated, manageable for a human. We're just a lot worse at it

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 days ago

Yeah it takes us longer than 2 stories to do it. But when you’re falling around a planet you have plenty of time.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 19 points 3 days ago

Also tails

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 10 points 3 days ago

I suspect the specific biomechanics of it change, but the general principle helps to get a starting point for figuring out human-applicable techniques. It was a very cutting-edge field at the time, after all; any advantage or pre-existing applicable work was welcome!

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So they are now breeding astronauts with hyper-flexible spines and much, much faster reflexes?

[–] gbzm@piefed.social 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

You should read Firefall, by Peter Watts.

In which they do do that, in a way that is simultaneously the most absurd you've ever read, and the most hard sci-fi credible. Mostly so they can hibernate iirc.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 2 points 2 days ago

It’s quite simple. You point your forelegs towards the ground, and then you point your hind legs toward the ground.

[–] craftrabbit@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 days ago

You can kind of try reorienting yourself in mid air by just using climbing gear. Have someone else hang you up on a rope (eg when falling off a wall in a climbing gym). Once you're in mid-air, you can try to make yourself spin (change your yaw) in mid air, the rope won't help you with that.

If you manage, you won't look elegant doing it.