RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne with an answer to how hummingbirds manage to fly in pouring rain. New slow-motion photography shows the tiny birds shed water much like dogs do, by whipping their heads back and forth. But hummingbirds do it mid-flight and really fast, reaching a G-force of 34, more than five times faster than a Formula One racing car. Researchers at U.C. Berkeley say this finding could help them develop micro air vehicles or improve the spin cycle of a washing machine. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.