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Secret behind owls’ near noiseless wings

Many owl species have developed specialised plumage to effectively eliminate the aerodynamic noise from their wings – allowing them to hunt and capture their prey in silence.

Researchers hope “silent owl technology” will assist in the design of aircraft, wind turbines and submarines.

Findings revealed that owls possess three physical attributes that contribute to their silent flight capability. They include a comb of stiff feathers along the leading edge of the wing, a flexible fringe on the trailing edge of the wing and a downy material distributed on the top of the wing.

Read more at Lehigh University

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