h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

By request of Bright Blue Shorts from a chat on peer review.

Is ear wiggling (you know, like Stan Laurel) a genetic thing or can anyone learn it?

I can do it and so can my son, but my parents can't. (Neither of them seem to be too impressed but they could be jealous!)

I can do it, but so can my father; I'm not sure if my mother or sibs can do it.

My father could, but not his children...

I actually think it´s genetical. Like that thing with the tongue. But how many can flare their nostrils on command?

I thought everyone could flare their nostrils. Anyway, as for ear waggling, I can do it but I'm not sure about my family. I think it is genetic though, and here's my theory:

The first time I realised I could waggle my ears was when someone nearby shouted, and it made my ears waggle involuntarily (I had to 'teach' myself how to do it voluntarily). Wouldn't this suggest a defence mechanism from something we evolved from? I mean, look at the way a lot of animals' (e.g. cats) ears move when they hear a noise.

What does everyone else think?

In my books ear-wiggling has been given a bad name by a teacher we had.

The reason animals move their ears is to direct them towards the sounds. I don´t think you get much out of that just by wiggling them.

Well, yes, but they still do it involuntarily at a sudden loud noise, so I think my theory still stands.

I can waggle my eyebrows independantly just like Mr Spock but I can't imagine that it is a genetic thing or a defensive mechanism and I can move my knee caps independantly too. No,my children and spouse can't do it but then I don't think they want to and so can't be bothered to 'learn'to do it. I can roll my tongue though which is genetic and again neither of my offspring can do so.Maybe there is a connection?Probably too much time on my hands.

You have a pair of ambidextrous wristwatches...? Hmmm...never let your right ear know what your left ear is doing.

I have always been able to move my eyebrows together, but one day when I was bored and had WAY too much time on my hands, I "taught" myself to move them independently. I can also flare my nostrils, though not independently.

I learned to wiggle my ears as a way of controlling my glasses. They just ease backwards and forwards, they dont flap. Does this count?

I can curl my tongue, but I had no idea some people couldnt flare their nostrils. SUCH a useful means of self expression.

I long to be able to raise one eyebrow. I can manage a couple of millimeters of independent movement with my right eyebrow, but only in front of a mirror.

Dad could wiggle his ears, and I know one of my parents could do the tongue roll, but I dont think the other could.

Knee-caps? Now there's a thought...

I can do knees as well. I have done dance for nigh on eight years, that could have something to do with it.

*desperately trying to flare his notrils*

*try ammonia*

Hmm, I think I can do the knee-cap thing. But I´m not sure, have to try tonight then.

Anyone here who can move their eyes independently then?

I can make my eyebrows mexican wave
verry suseful that
I carnt wigle my ears though

Wow, it must be really something to be able to stand with a couple of mates at a football match and flaunt your mexican waving eyebrows

I can't move my eyes independently, but I had a friend whose eyes, when she was really stressed, would go in two different directions at once, it was quite unnerving!

Ammonia's good! It can simultaneously make your hair stand on end, your nostrils flare raise both your eyebrows and make your eyeballs pop out of your head

I think that counts as a 'use of an illegal substance' in facial gymnastics though