Tagged With Science

Close-up of a coiled green tree python's head, with its forked tongue flicking out to sample the air

How Snakes Use Their Sense of Smell: A Fascinating Insight

14 June 2024

How snakes' excellent sense of smell works, from their forked tongues to their Jacobson's organs, to hunt, reproduce, and move around.

Labrador Retriever sniffing a pile of catnip leaves with a confused expression

Can Dogs Get High From Catnip? Here's Why the Effects Are Species-Specific

12 June 2024

Why catnip doesn't work on dogs the way it does on cats - the special biology that explains why each species reacts to the plant in its own way.

A tabby cat with large, attentive ears listening intently to something off-screen

How Well Can Cats Hear? Their Hearing Range

12 June 2024

Cats can detect noises from up to 1,200 meters away because of their unique ear structure and broad frequency range.

A friendly-looking golden retriever with a thick, shiny coat lying on a carpeted floor, with its owner's hand gently resting on its abdomen

Does My Dog Have an Appendix? What It Does in Different Mammals

10 June 2024

The dog's appendix is actually useful, aiding in digestion and the immune system, which is very different from the human appendix.

Closeup of a Labrador Retriever with a concerned expression and a slight head twitch

Do Dogs Get Tourette's Syndrome? A Look at Tic-Like Behaviors

9 June 2024

Dogs can't actually get Tourette's syndrome, but they can show signs of tics as a result of other things, just not a neurological disorder.

Calico cat with fur standing up and arched back in a defensive posture, in a warm living room setting

Why Do Cats Arch Their Backs? Exploring the Science Behind This Feline Behavior

8 June 2024

Why do cats arch their backs? It could be a sign of aggression, a way to stretch, or something else.

Burmese cat with golden eyes staring up at a person, its nose close to the person's mouth

Why Do Cats Smell Your Breath? Unraveling the Mystery

7 June 2024

Cats rely on their sense of smell to pick up on the odors in human breath, such as food smells, health-related odors, and emotional odors.

An Australian Shepherd dog holding a plush toy in its mouth, offering it to a smiling human in a living room setting

Why Dogs Bring You Toys: Evolutionary Insights

7 June 2024

When dogs give their humans toys, it's a leftover behavior from evolution, and they're presenting a "prey item" to the leader of the pack.

Golden retriever sniffing a petri dish filled with Clostridioides difficile bacteria samples on a laboratory counter, with a scientist in a white coat observing

Can Dogs Get C. Diff? Exploring the Species Barrier

6 June 2024

Dogs can't get C. difficile, but they can carry the bacteria and pass it on to people.

Closeup of a large Maine Coon cat with bright, glowing yellow eyes in a dimly lit environment

Why Do Cats' Eyes Glow in the Dark? The Science Explained

5 June 2024

The tapetum lucidum, which is a layer of tissue that sits behind the retina, is the reason why cats' eyes seem to glow in the dark. It improves their night vision by reflecting light that passes through the retina.

Muscular German Shepherd Dog with defined abdominal muscles standing in a grassy outdoor environment

Can Dogs Get Abs? A Look at Canine Core Anatomy and Fitness

4 June 2024

While dogs don't have a six-pack like humans, their abs are still important for their overall well-being and ability to move.

Fluffy orange tabby cat shaking its paws after being touched by cold water on a marble countertop in a modern kitchen

Why Do Cats Hate Cold Water? An Evolutionary Perspective

1 June 2024

Cats hate water because of their natural instinct to avoid cold, wet environments, which can be traced back to their ancestors that lived in the desert.