Waddling is better than walking

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It may not go down well on the catwalks of Paris and Milan, but scientists say waddling can be better than walking.

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Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, US, performed experiments on Emperor penguins at the San Diego SeaWorld Park to find out just why they�waddle instead of walk.

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Although it may not take a team of scientists to work out that the birds' short legs and big feet are a contributing factor, the real question is why are the birds built that way

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The blubber-lined waterproof birds swim like fish, because their legs are so far back in their body shape which gives them the perfect qualities� for moving in water when they are seeking food. But it does make things rather awkward for moving about on land.

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And once again Nature has proved that there is a stoke of genius behind the design, evolved over thousands of years.

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Basically, as the penguins swing one side of their body forward and then the other, which produces the waddle, they get enough momentum up to use (and that means waste) as little energy as possible.

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Conserving energy is of course vitally important for an animal that may have to walk more than 100 kilometres across the freezing Antarctic ice before it reaches open water and food after the hatching season.

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To some, studying how penguins walk might seem a frivolous pursuit. However the study is helping�scientists to understand and treat people with walking disabilities. It can even lead to better robotic design and more realistic figures in animated films.

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So for fashion icons sashaying down the catwalk in skimpy Galliano or McQueen outfits, a practised waddle may keep them warmer than walking, but try suggesting that to Naomi and co.