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Why emus can't fly: A 'time switch' in bird embryos holds the answer
- May 14, 2026 at 3:40 PM
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Why can eagles soar through the skies while emus are bound to the earth? One secret lies in a skeletal structure called the keel, a blade-like ridge on the breastbone that anchors the flight muscles needed for powered flight. Flying birds have a prominent one, whereas in flightless birds, the keel never fully forms.
Originally published at Phys.org