Manta rays are beautiful and majestic animals that have a life-changing effect on people who meet them. I want to protect them so humans can experience their transformational power for generations to come! My goal is to inspire people so they take action to protect the mantas' ecosystem and oceans all around the world.
Robots that swim (almost) like manta rays
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One of the most amazing things about manta rays is their effortless gliding through the water. This goes beyond just swimming: they've developed elaborate techniques to feed (alone or in groups), they've been seen jumping out of the water (called breaching, and it's pretty spectacular!), and they're known to cross vast distances at high speeds. A long time ago, I sold a VHS tape (remember those?) to aerospace engineers, and they bought it for the sole purpose of simulating the mantas' unique swimming abilities. Unsurprisingly, engineers continue to be inspired by the manta rays' movements and create underwater robots that mimic their motion patterns. The results are pretty amazing: manta-inspired robots can reach a speed of 6.8 times their body length per second, move up and down through the water column, and operate with an energy efficiency similar to that of giant manta rays. And it's not just happening underwater; engineers are applying manta ray principles to aircraft wing design, water filtration systems, and artistic creations. Well-known LEGO hobby designer Berthil van Beek was so inspired by watching Amanda Ray during a night swim here in Kona that he created a kinetic sculpture with moving fins and a light-up heartbeat - watch it here on YouTube!
Next time you see a manta ray gliding through the water, think about this: you're looking at millions of years of natural evolution that's now inspiring tomorrow's technology. Pretty cool, right?
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Martina Wing
Manta rays are beautiful and majestic animals that have a life-changing effect on people who meet them. I want to protect them so humans can experience their transformational power for generations to come! My goal is to inspire people so they take action to protect the mantas' ecosystem and oceans all around the world.
Aloha Reader, Have you ever had the feeling that everything you thought you knew about the world just went out the window? The first time that happened to manta ray enthusiasts around the world, was around 2009, when scientists confirmed there was not just one, but two species of manta rays. There were enough differences between reef mantas (Mobula alfredi) and pelagic or oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) to identify them as two different species. Reef mantas are the ones we see almost...
Aloha Reader, If you've been following me for a while, you know this about me: I'm not afraid to speak my truth. And with recent global and local developments, I've been looking for other avenues to share wonderful and inspiring stories of hope and engagement. One of those "other avenues" is the Ocean Wings podcast, where I invite guests to explore how nature can reconnect us to what really matters in life. The tagline, "From Manta Ray Magic to Meaningful Change," hopefully resonates with...
Aloha Reader, After 25+ years of taking people to swim with manta rays, we've heard some pretty interesting questions. Most of our guests are amazing - they come prepared, respect the ocean, and understand that we're entering the mantas' home as visitors. But sometimes, we get questions that make us stop and wonder if we live in the same reality, so today's email will be a bit punchy... Like the parents who asked to leave their young kids alone on a dark, isolated beach while they joined the...