why can't humans fly?

why cant humans physically fly? like superman kind of

rowlfe2010-11-14T11:12:10Z

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Easy. Horsepower to weight ratio... It takes horsepower to generate lift to support weight against the force of gravity. Humans don't have enough horsepower to do the job without a LOT of technology. A number of years ago, a human powered craft, the Gossamer Condor was flown across the English Channel, powered by a single man, a professional bike racer by the way, since he had the "legs" to do the job. Pun intended. Do a web search and you will find images and information. Throw enough horsepower at the problem, and the result is man walking on the moon. It is never actually made clear HOW it is that Superman "flies". It is simply ballistic in that he jumps? As per the "leaps tall buildings in a single bound" kind of thing? Or does he actually levitate in that he defies gravity in some manner? Or could it be something so simple as throwing yourself at the ground and missing?

?2010-11-15T15:41:40Z

to being, supermans ability to fly defies the law of physics. In terms of biology certain genes must be in place in order for evolution to select for the genes. Humans do not have these genes, like was mentioned in some of the other posts physically we are not structured and we don't have genes which nature can select for flight (lighter bone structure, bones growing homologous to bats wings, shorter bodies and legs, muscles that contain the right amount of fast twitch and slow twitch fibers to maintain flight)

Hayden Mho2010-11-14T11:11:53Z

Because we - humans don't have WINGS .. and any living thing without wings can't fly .
Note: Superman - is NOT human- He is a living thing from outer space who LOOK like a human.

Ted K2010-11-14T11:11:26Z

Several different phylogenetic lines independently evolved with wings allowing flight. Our ancestors simply weren't among those lines. Instead, they evolved filling a biological niche that was on a different branch from those that eventually became flying animals. On that branch, the ability to fly was not important, and therefore not selected for.

Billy Bob2010-11-14T11:00:28Z

Well, to fly you would need wings. Also, you would need to be able to generate enough speed to displace enough air to provide lift.

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