Flies and other insects circling bulbs is actually a pretty terrible result of their extensive history of evolution without artificial light. They feel like they’re flying straight as far as vision is concerned, while the rest of their body is describing circles.
It’s probably quite close to how an utterly wasted person stumbling around trying to stand up straight feels, getting a bunch of conflicting info from their senses. It’s probably a pretty shitty experience that does often result in death (especially if they’re circling a bug zapper), and most humans just laugh at it.
Flies and other insects circling bulbs is actually a pretty terrible result of their extensive history of evolution without artificial light. They feel like they’re flying straight as far as vision is concerned, while the rest of their body is describing circles.
This seems to be incredibly recent research:
4 December 2025
Instead, Fabian argues that new camera technology, finally up to the task of capturing fast-flying insects at night, points to a somewhat novel explanation: what’s known as the dorsal light response, in which insects orient themselves so their upper sides face the brightest area around them.
Even the researcher says himself they still can’t say 100% for sure
It’s probably a pretty shitty experience that does often result in death (especially if they’re circling a bug zapper), and most humans just laugh at it.
I’ve never seen anyone laugh at insects flocking around a light let alone “most humans”, who are you friends with ?
Yup, nature is absolutely brutal, and humans in particular are highly callous and destructive at large scales. Things like empathy only exist at smaller scales.
Flies and other insects circling bulbs is actually a pretty terrible result of their extensive history of evolution without artificial light. They feel like they’re flying straight as far as vision is concerned, while the rest of their body is describing circles.
It’s probably quite close to how an utterly wasted person stumbling around trying to stand up straight feels, getting a bunch of conflicting info from their senses. It’s probably a pretty shitty experience that does often result in death (especially if they’re circling a bug zapper), and most humans just laugh at it.
Empathetic species my ass.
This seems to be incredibly recent research:
4 December 2025
https://aeon.co/videos/do-we-finally-understand-why-winged-insects-seem-drawn-to-light
Even the researcher says himself they still can’t say 100% for sure
I’ve never seen anyone laugh at insects flocking around a light let alone “most humans”, who are you friends with ?
Yup, nature is absolutely brutal, and humans in particular are highly callous and destructive at large scales. Things like empathy only exist at smaller scales.