British zoologist who made groundbreaking discoveries related to winged insects. In 1994 Ellington and his colleagues constructed an insect model—fairly large and a slow-motion type—to use in wind tunnel tests. They were rewarded when the tests revealed a microscale vortex that adhered to the wing's leading edge. The resulting swirling provided low pressure over the wings and an extraordinary amount of lift, helping to explain how winged insects can fly. Ellington has long taught at Cambridge University in England.