A mathematical solution to a biological puzzle that may not really exist might prove useful for designing hopping rovers for space exploration .

Alberto Vailati at the University of Milan, Italy, normally researches the physics of fluid dynamics. However, about 10 years ago, after noticing jumping insects on a holiday, he was intrigued to read some lab studies in which insects, including fruit fly larvae, gall midge larvae and froghoppers , had all been seen leaping with an average take-off angle of about 60 degrees.

The idea that many different types of insects should …