Machine learning is going to transform our lives,” says Yisong Yue. Read more about his work—and why Caltech is at a distinct advantage—at breakthrough.caltech.edu/yue. #CaltechImpact | Caltech

Flight has evolved four times in the history of life on Earth: in birds, bats, pterosaurs, and insects. The first three groups of animals evolved their wings from arms, making these wings straightforward to understand as other similar animals have analogous bones and musculature. Insect wings, however, have no muscles or nerves. They are instead controlled by muscles located inside the body that operate a system of marionette-like pulleys within a complex hinge at the base of the wing. Just how