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Humanity making progress like it always does (mbin.grits.dev)

submitted 5 months ago by mozz@mbin.grits.dev to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 77 points 5 months ago

I'm 51, I spent the 90's in Louisiana, and since my wife doesn't fly, we have driven across the USA more times than we can count. In the 90's, if you didn't have a bug screen on your grill, the LoveBugs would clog your radiator and you would over heat. You also needed the windshield scrib and squeegee to scrub off the bug splatter every time you filled up. Now, you don't need either of them.

[-] xenspidey@lemmy.zip 19 points 5 months ago

I have been thinking about this recently. How much of this is lack of bugs vs aerodynamics. I mean back in the day we all drove big rectangles. I'm not denying the fact that it could be a mass extinction of bugs. Just curious.

[-] Ephera@lemmy.ml 47 points 5 months ago

Nope, seems to purely be the mass extinction thing. In fact:

modern cars hit more bugs, perhaps because older models push a bigger layer of air – and insects – over the vehicle.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/12/car-splatometer-tests-reveal-huge-decline-number-insects

[-] hessenjunge@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 5 months ago

Same in Europe.

[-] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 5 months ago

Drove a ton in the 90s all across the US as well every year there was a couple several thousand mile vacations starting from near Kansas city.

The bugs were bad, but we never needed a bug screen on the grill. I never even remember seeing something like that exist, actually. Definitely less bugs now, though.