# Human wings, horns, tails, etc... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 10, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873 "2004-09-10T03:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/1 "2004-09-10T03:59:42Z")
Just read this [article](http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,665328,00.html) about a plastic surgeon who hopes to soon be able to attach new appendages to human bodies. He makes the claim that if he does so, the person’s nervous system and brain will adapt to the change. In effect, he claims, the human brain could “rewire” its neurons so that the person would actually be able to move their wings or their tail. From high school biology I remember that there exist maps between regions of the brain and regions of the body. By observing what parts of the body can still move and which are paralyzed after a stroke stops blood flow to certain areas of the brain, we know that the neurons in particular locations control movement and feeling in certain parts of the body. If this is the case, then how can the guy’s claim be true? What part of the brain would control the new appendages? ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/2 "2004-09-10T04:16:44Z")
> [@](#): > > In effect, he claims, the human brain could “rewire” its neurons so that the person would actually be able to move their wings or their tail. I had no idea the human body was plug-and-play compatible. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/3 "2004-09-10T05:28:51Z")
Well, sure. You just insert slot A into tab B, and… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/4 "2004-09-10T05:38:03Z")
One thing that bugs me slightly. In the article it mentions making flesh covered wing that would make people look like angels. Actually, it would make people look like they had bat wings sticking out of their backs. Angel wings have feathers, Bat wings don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/5 "2004-09-10T06:14:40Z")
Slight hijack: how large would wings have to be to keep a human aloft? Also, how strong would said wings have to be to actually propel a human body? Seems like they’d have to be a good deal stronger than our arms or legs. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/6 "2004-09-10T07:33:17Z")
I seem to remember from some discourse or other on the physical impracticability of angels that a human would need a wingspan minimally 12 feet across, but also would need a gigantic chest to house all the muscles, but this in turn would put extra stresses on the skeleton, which would probably also need strengthening, increasing the weight and making the whole thing quite a difficult engineering prospect. The individual would also consume a lot of energy just staying alive and an unbelievable amount in flight. The plastic surgeon is talking rather fancifully; at the moment, we can’t even reattach severed fingers in a way that you could describe as wholly satisfactory. Some of this might be able to be overcome by remodelling the body without severing the nerves (as is currently done in gender reassignment operatons), but that means you have a restricted amount of material with which to construct the pseudo wings. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/7 "2004-09-10T10:30:14Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > In effect, he claims, the human brain could “rewire” its neurons so that the person would actually be able to move their wings or their tail. The brain can rewire itself all it wants. Unless some radical changes in musculature are made, that angel ain’t flying anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/8 "2004-09-10T12:00:51Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > One thing that bugs me slightly. In the article it mentions making flesh covered wing that would make people look like angels. > > Actually, it would make people look like they had bat wings sticking out of their backs. > > Angel wings have feathers, Bat wings don’t. I’m sure plenty of Goths will pay good money to look like Asrael :rolleyes: > [@Mangetout](#): > > I seem to remember from some discourse or other on the physical impracticability of angels that a human would need a wingspan minimally 12 feet across, but also would need a gigantic chest to house all the muscles, but this in turn would put extra stresses on the skeleton, which would probably also need strengthening, increasing the weight and making the whole thing quite a difficult engineering prospect. A layman’s description of the problem which I once heard - look at any bird. It’s back is at a heavily-raked angle. Imagine if you lifted it up so it’s back was vertical. See how far it’s breast protudes. Quite unlike human psysiology. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/9 "2004-09-10T13:33:21Z")
Given that we’re just now getting to the point where reattaching a severed limb can result in the patient recovering partial use of the limb, when it’s his own arm, attaching a pair of batwings or a tail and being able to move them? I’m guessing “twitch” would be a more descriptive term than “move”. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/10 "2004-09-10T13:35:27Z")
We might be able to build in glide capaibility much more easily. It would still need anchorage, but not nearly as much muscle. Hmm, this might have a bunch of interesting possibilities: just think of all the idiots who’d go out and get glide wings, then throw themselves off buildings, only to see the wings fail because they have no instinctual responses to let them fly. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/11 "2004-09-10T13:49:49Z")
I suppose the kind of wing area that a human would need to glide for any decent distance would be the kind of wing area found on a hang gliding rig (probably more when you consider the weight implications of building it out of living materials) - anything less than that is going to need to be actively _flapped_ (which introduces problems already discussed) or is going to result in less of a glide and more (or less) of a _controlled fall_. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/12 "2004-09-10T13:52:36Z")
Finally, cannibals can enjoy buffalo wings too. Ain’t science great? ---
**Author:** ![presidebt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c37758/32.png) [@presidebt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/presidebt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/13 "2004-09-10T14:00:34Z")
There’s a really good article on this guy from the Harper’s Magazine June or July 2001 edition. I read that article at the time it was published and I have been haunted by it ever since. I still think about it several times a year. I highly recommend it, as it explores larger questions than the technological concerns of whether it can be done. Very well written. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/14 "2004-09-10T14:31:31Z")
> [@Catalyst](#): > > Slight hijack: how large would wings have to be to keep a human aloft? According to Marvel Comics, a sixteen foot wingspan should do it. (Angel) 😃 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/15 "2004-09-10T14:42:22Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Angel wings have feathers, Bat wings don’t. I gotta ask for a cite on the first half of that statement. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/16 "2004-09-10T14:43:40Z")
> [@zev\_steinhardt](#): > > According to Marvel Comics, a sixteen foot wingspan should do it. (Angel) 😃 > > Zev Steinhardt Well, yeah, but he had feathers. We’re talking batwings, here. > [@mangetout](#): > > anything less than that is going to need to be actively flapped (which introduces problems already discussed) or is going to result in less of a glide and more (or less) of a **controlled fall**. I thought that’s what gliding _was?_ > [@Monty Python](#): > > Not a creature of the air, is the sheep. It’s more of a “plummet,” actually. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/17 "2004-09-10T14:46:37Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > I gotta ask for a cite on the first half of that statement. [Here you go.](http://www.sistersanddaughters.com/angelwing.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/18 "2004-09-10T15:45:22Z")
Does this mean that next year the Mothman look will be in? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/19 "2004-09-10T16:40:14Z")
Oh, and I’d just like to say that, given that I have to shave, get a haircut and wear a suit for job interviews, I would like to think that somebody who has had batwings and a tail surgically grafted onto his body is going to have a freaking hard time finding a job. That’s all. Well, maybe not for lawyers. Or exotic dancers. But that’s _it._ ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873/20 "2004-09-10T16:45:58Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > We might be able to build in glide capaibility much more easily. It would still need anchorage, but not nearly as much muscle. > > Hmm, this might have a bunch of interesting possibilities: just think of all the idiots who’d go out and get glide wings, then throw themselves off buildings, only to see the wings fail because they have no instinctual responses to let them fly. The article I pointed to makes some interesting conjectures about what might happen. One is that anyone who actually wanted to have wings on their body might be judged to be insane, and thus the state could step in and prevent it from happening. This would be a serious damper on the human wing business, you have to admit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-wings-horns-tails-etc/263873.md?page=2)