Peregrine falcons dive at speeds that would shatter human lungs

When a peregrine falcon spots prey from a mile up, it tucks its wings into a tight diamond shape to minimize drag. In this state, the bird becomes a living missile, reaching speeds of 240 miles per hour. At these velocities, the sheer force of the air entering the bird's lungs would be fatal. To survive, the falcon has evolved small, bony cones inside its nostrils that break up the incoming air, diffusing the pressure before it reaches the respiratory system.