🐠 Fish don’t rest when they freeze in place!

Scientists used to think that if a fish “hangs” in the water and doesn’t swim, it means it’s resting. But it turned out to be the opposite! When a fish stays still, it spends twice as much energy as when it just lies on the bottom.

Why is that? Because fish constantly move their fins a little to avoid tipping over to the side or drifting away. It’s like trying to stay still on a bicycle — you always need to make tiny movements not to fall.

For some fish, hovering is easier, and for others, harder — it all depends on their body shape and the position of their fins. And such observations help people create underwater robots that can swim like real fish and explore, for example, coral reefs or sunken ships.

❓ Would you like to be able to “hover” in the water like a fish, without touching the bottom? 🐟