The spoon in this image seems to stop at the water's edge, then reappear in a different place under the water!

We've all actually seen this, but it's still fascinating. And, by the way, the answer to how and why this happens still goes over my head! I know it has something to do with light refraction, but beyond that, it's all Greek to me.

However, there's a fascinating fish that lives in southeast Asia called the archer fish. This little guy has a unique way of catching food. It has the ability to spot insects sitting up to 10ft. above the water on branches, so it has superb vision. It then employs it's own version of a squirt gun, but with virtual 100% accuracy!

I won't even begin to try to describe what goes on in its mouth to create the jet of water, but it's absolutely stunning. The mechanism in its mouth creates a stream of water in such a way that the leading water is traveling slower at the point of impact than the water pushing it up. This creates a "blob" of water at the moment it strikes the insect, creating a punch that the insect cannot overcome, and it falls into the water to be swallowed by the fish!

But it's even more incredible that the fish can overcome the effects of light refraction. It does this by spitting at the insect at a mean angle of 74 degrees from horizontal. When it spots prey, it can rotate its eye so that the image of the prey falls onto a particular portion of the eye that will correct the refraction, so its aim is accurate!

A fish with excellent eyesight! A fish that can compensate for refraction! A fish that has a mouth that contains an incredibly accurate cannon that creates a punch right when it needs it!

Just a random accident over time? Not a chance!! Watch one HERE!

In Christ,