Something I saved and have no idea why: 
Study: Penguins Do Not Topple Watching Aircraft
Reuters
Feb 2 2001
LONDON (Reuters) – Do penguins topple over when they peer into the sky watching planes and helicopters fly over?
Finally, a full blown scientific study has come up with the answer. They may waddle away in fright but they do NOT lose their balance and topple over.
Rumors of falling penguins have abounded since British plane and helicopter pilots returning from the 1982 Falklands War claimed their flights had toppled the earth-bound birds.
To settle the issue, a favorite of cartoonists and penguin jokes, environmental research scientist Richard Stone spent five weeks watching helicopters fly over two King Penguin colonies in the Antarctic, studying their effect on more than 1,000 birds.
“We saw birds moving away from the noise (of helicopters and planes),” he said. “Not a single bird fell over after 17 flights.”
“As it (the helicopter) approached, the birds went quiet,” he said. “They didn’t appear to turn around and look.”
Some birds waddled away from the helicopters. Others became quiet. A few minutes later, they waddled back.
“We don’t know if it’s the noise or the visual aspect — whether it looks like a potential predator,” Stone said.
why can’t they just fly? and why don’t they have feathers? are their arms even considered as wings? what exactly does the word “penguin” mean
Kwang’s Penguin Lesson:
Penguins can not fly because their weight to veritcal lift and wing strength ratio is too high. They have adapted to cold weather living by developping layers of fat.
They actuallly do have feathers, but they are very compact and harder than the feathers you are used to seeing.
Yes, their ‘arms’ are considered wings. They act as both propulsion and rudders when they are swimming through the Antarctic waters.
In the dictionary it states that the possible etymology of the word “Penguin” may be from old Welsh for the words “Pen” meaning “Head” and “Gwyne” meaning “White”.
Thanks nathon. I have to give you 2-eprops for that one. One more question though. Are penguins the only birds that can swim under water? Are there any other birds that can do that?
Kwang, no, cormorants also swim underwater. They’re neat. In some countries, they are used for fishing by tying a rope around its neck and making it dive for fish.
pictures please
Kwang, you gotta be kiddin’ me… fine.
http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/kp/topics/eng/2003jun/06-03b.html
cool, thanks