How to Appear to Save a Fly From Drowning

If you find a fly floating in a cup of water you left in the living room, or in a fountain or puddle outside, you might be able to fool your friends into believing you've resurrected it from the dead.

Sprinkle a napkin with salt (just enough to coat it).

Remove fly gently and carefully from the water. You don't want to accidentally damage its body (especially the wings).

Place the fly on the napkin.

Wrap the fly--again, gently and carefully--in the napkin.

Wait for 5-10 minutes for the fly to start buzzing again.

Open the napkin and let it fly away.

Tips

• This works because flies breathe through tubes on their body called spiracles. In water, the tubes are blocked, but flies, like many other insects, can survive without oxygen for extended periods of time. If you get to it quickly enough, the salt will draw water out of the tubes and the fly will be able to get fresh oxygen and fly away.

Warnings

• A fly that's been in the water for too long might actually be dead, in which case you can't bring it back to life unless you are some kind of prophet.