Ever watched a fly zoom past or a bee hover delicately over a flower, and wondered how they manage it? Unlike birds and other flying animals, insects don't have direct muscle control in their wings. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have delved deep into this question, revealing the complex mechanics behind insect flight, a capability that has profoundly influenced the evolution of life on Earth. The secret's in the hinge Insect wings are attached to the body by a hinge that is far more complex...