fromwww.scientificamerican.com
1 month agoThe physics of Penisgate' and how ski jumpers fly
In the run-up to this year's Winter Olympics, and even as the Games have got underway, a scandal has been brewing: allegedly, some competitive ski jumpers may have artificially enlarged their crotch area by injecting their genitals with engorging chemicals or stuffing their underwear to create bigger bulges. The apparent reason: to alter their suit measurementsski jumpsuits are precisely tailored to jumpers' bodiesand, reportedly, to gain a boost in jumps. The allegations, first reported by a German media outlet and since dubbed Penisgate, have caught not only the Internet's attention but also the World Anti-Doping Agency's eye, although no athletes have been implicated by name.