There’s an old scientific claim
that bumblebees shouldn’t be able to fly.
Why did the claim persist?

Question

Accepted Answer

Because a 1934 aerodynamics calculation assumed rigid wings — bumblebees use rapid wing rotation, which the equations couldn’t handle. — The bee never got the memo. Modern high-speed video solved the mystery in 2005. Reality laughed at the math.

There’s an old scientific claim that bumblebees shouldn’t be able to fly. Why did the claim persist?