Two Spanish scientists are having something of a Holmesian moment. Javier Ruiz and Ang茅lica Torices of Madrid’s Complutense University have聽聽that determines an individual’s walking or running speed based solely on their footprints.聽
The scientists collected data on speed and stride length from professional athletes as well as 14 paleontology students who were asked to run along a beach.聽Their resulting calculations showed surprising accuracy, with a margin of error ranging from 10 to 15 percent.聽
Now they hope to聽聽of early humans. In fact, they have already used it on Pleistocene-era tracks in Australia. Scientists had previously guessed that the tracks indicated a speed comparable to that of a professional athlete. Ruiz and Torices’ equation has estimated a much more believable sprinting pace. Mystery solved.