This leading-edge vortex lowers the air pressure over the upper surface of the maple seed, effectively sucking the wing upward to oppose gravity, giving it a boost.

This leading-edge vortex lowers the air pressure over the upper surface of the maple seed, effectively sucking the wing upward to oppose gravity, giving it a boost.

Smoke particles illuminated with laser light around a freely flying maple seed reveal a prominent leading edge vortex. The visualization of the leading edge vortex on this and 31 other specimens ...

Maple seeds, familiar in yards throughout Central ... a professor at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, found that the leading edge of a spinning seed creates a tornado-like vortex.

The mechanism that causes maple tree "helicopter seeds" to spin has been a mystery, until now — a new study has found that the aerodynamics that keep these seeds aloft also allow certain insects ...

The images the team obtained showed that a swirling maple seed generates a tornado-like vortex that sits atop the front leading edge as the “helicopter” spins slowly to the ground. This leading edge ...

Maple seeds use tornado-like vortex to hover; same mechanism used by bats, hummingbirds. Skip to main content. Open menu Close menu. Live Science. Search. Search Live Science.

For maple, it makes a lot of sense biologically that they should fly very well with their continuous spinning wings; maple seeds are propelled by gravity and turbulent gusts of wind. There is lots ...

A falling maple fruit spins thanks to its heavy seed and asymmetrical wing, as shown here. Inset: The spinning generates a whirling vortex of air above the wing, providing lift, scientists report ...

The images the team obtained showed that a swirling maple seed generates a tornado-like vortex that sits atop the front leading edge as the “helicopter” spins slowly to the ground. This leading edge ...