There’s an almost magical quality to cats that we sometimes take for granted. Their incredible flexibility, sensory awareness, and uncanny ability to always land on their feet when they fall make cats some of the most unique creatures around. There’s an actual scientific reason for this! This is all thanks to something called “cat righting reflex.”

But how do they pull it off? Whether it’s falling off a seven-foot fridge or your couch, they always manage to right themselves before hitting the ground. While we’ve seen animals do some extraordinary things, these little feline acrobats are pretty impressive!

Let’s dive and look at the science behind cats always landing on their feet!

What is Cat Righting Reflex? 

Cat righting reflex is a cat’s innate ability to orient itself as it falls in order to land on its feet. This ability appears when the cat is still a kitten, around 3-4 weeks of age. 

Cats have two physical advantages to perfect this reflex. 

First, cats have an unusually flexible backbone and no clavicle (collar bone). While the cat’s tail is also an effective tool for maintaining balance, cats without tails also have this righting reflex. 

Secondly, a cat’s ears actually play a significant role in why they always land on their feet. As it turns out, their inner ear holds the vestibular apparatus. This is a sensory system that helps with balance and spatial awareness so a cat can tell up from down.

The Techniques 

According to University of North Carolina Physics Professor Greg Gbur, cats can employ a series of different techniques when they fall. 

First technique: “Tuck and Turn”

A cat tucks in a pair of its paws so it can twist rapidly before hitting the ground. 

Second technique: “Falling Figure Skater”

Proposed by nineteenth century physicist James Clerk Maxwell, a cat can shift its angular momentum by retracting or extending its paws in a flash. 

Third technique:  “Bend and Twist”

The front half of the body rotates on a different axis from the back half.

Fourth technique:  “Propeller Tail”

This may be the most hysterical of the techniques. This is when the cat rotates its tail in the opposite direction of its body to right itself. Let that image sink in for a second. 

While these furry trapeze artists use a combination of all of these techniques to avoid a splat, their bodies also have low terminal velocity. Meaning, their small size, light bone structure and thick fur decreases the maximum speed at which they can fall through the air.

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat!

I mean, who wouldn’t want the ability to always land on their feed?

But beyond their gravity-defying ability, cats are unique, and sometimes mysterious, animals.

For example, cats can purr for a variety of reasons and you may not be able to tell exactly why. They might be purring because they want you to keep petting them, because they’re sick, or, if they’re a younger kitten, they may be persuading their mother to keep nursing them. If you’re not paying close attention to their behavior, it can be impossible to tell. 

This complexity relates to their cat righting reflex as well. Some cats are longer than others, fatter, skinnier, older, younger. – you name it! All these factors are at play, leaving that precise certainty of why cats always land on their feet still a bit up in the air

The post Why Cats Always Land on Their Feet first appeared on History In Memes.

In the pandemic era of the 2020s, we have become quite familiar with societal efforts to move large gatherings outdoors. But have you ever heard of the open air schools of the 20th century?

For most of us, year-round outdoor dining and limited indoor activity is a recent phenomenon that has caused us to change the way we function in our daily lives. But, in reality, open air movements are not all that new. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, tuberculosis was responsible for killing one in seven people in Europe and the United States. Open air schools in the early 20th century were largely an attempt to limit child exposure to the disease, with the hope of keeping the public death toll down. 

With the help of some gifted doctors and architects, these schools were able to thrive.

The First Open Air School

The first open air school was created in Waldschule für kränkliche Kinder (which translates to “forest school for sickly children”), in Charlottenburg, Germany in 1904. The school was built by Walter Spickendorff and founded by Jakob Bernhard Bendix. 

While tuberculosis deaths were not common in children, a discovery by Robert Koch revealed that the tuberculosis was an airborne pathogen widening the public health risk. This discovery also led to the development of a “tuberculin test,” exposing large numbers of asymptomatic infected children. 

Without a cure for tuberculosis, health officials were concerned with large gatherings of children with asymptomatic tuberculosis in traditional schools. The focus became targeting public environments and social behaviors in an attempt to limit exposure to the disease. 

Open air schools, like the one in Charlottenburg, began popping up across Germany and around the world. 

The open air school in Charlottenburg was built in the heart of a forest outside of Berlin. If the weather got too cold or rainy, simple wooden buildings were built to hold well-ventilated instruction. 
An added benefit to the open air school strategy were reports of school children with various diseases experiencing significant improvements in their health as a result of spending so much time outdoors.

Open Air Schools Head to the U.S.

Tuberculosis wasn’t just a European problem. The U.S. was suffering from similar death rates and had relied on sanatoriums to combat the spread of the disease. 

In 1908, open air schools arrived in the U.S. thanks to two Rhode Island doctors: Mary Packard and Ellen Stone. 

Taking a page out of Germany’s book, the two doctors used what resources they had and converted the floor of an empty brick building in Providence to a makeshift open air school. 

With windows that stretched to the ceiling that were rarely closed, children kept warm in the winter with snuggy-like blankets known as “eskimo sitting bags.” Remarkably, none of the children got sick during the frigid New England winters – bolstering the open air school even further. 

Fast forward two years, there were 65 functioning open air schools across the U.S.

Open Air Schools Become Open For Good!

With the growing efficacy and popularity of the open air school movement, renowned architects began constructing permanent open air schools in Europe and the U.S. 

In 1927, Dutch architect Jan Duiker constructed an ambitious terraced glass and concrete open air school in the center of Amsterdam. The goal of making more open air schools permanent was to cater to the health of all children – infected or not. 

The open air school movement that began in the woods of Germany proved that moving class outside can save thousands of lives. What was once a relentless disease now had an observable achilles heel.

By the mid 1940s, increased sanitation efforts, open air methods and the discovery of effective antibiotics like streptomycin, caused tuberculosis to recede as a major health threat. 

So, listen to your teacher, and take it outside!

The post Early 20th Century Open Air Schools first appeared on History In Memes.

The Institute of Advanced Studies in Princeton has hosted some incredible scientists and researchers. Luckily, one photographer was able to capture some of the greatest scientific minds all in one photo!

Back in 1954, four of some of the most well-known physicists took a stroll together at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Princeton. The famous physicists included Albert Einstein, Hideki Yukawa, John Wheeler, and Homi Bhabha, all distinguished in their fields of expertise.

Here’s a rundown on the who’s who in this photo (going left to right). Let’s dive in!

What was Albert Einstein known for?

Born in Germany on March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein developed the special and general theories of relativity. However, most people remember him for his equation: E = mc^2 ,which explains that “energy equals mass times light when it’s squared.” In other words, he showed how energy and mass are interchangeable.

In addition, Einstein is known for more than his most famous equation. Three of his other significant discoveries include brownian motion, mass and energy equivalence and the law of photoelectric effect. 

Einstein’s discovery of the law of photoelectric effect even won him the Nobel Peace Prize for Physics in 1921. But his work with space, the speed of light, gravity and his equation made him one of the most well-known physicists in the world. Einstein’s work lives on in schools and in the science field. Einstein passed away on April 18, 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey. 

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

– Albert Einstein

What was Hideki Yukawa known for?

Hideki Yukawa was born in Tokyo, Japan, on January 23, 1907. His research began with the theory of strong and weak nuclear forces. This led Yukawa to discovering the existence of a new kind of particle called the meson. The meson theory explains how the protons and electrons interacted with one another in the nucleus. In other words, this means it’s the glue that holds the nuclear particles together. 

It was named the meson due to its mass being between the masses of a proton and an electron.  Yukawa’s work with elementary particles won him the Nobel Peace Prize for Physics in 1949. Hideki’s meson theory and work with particles was very influential in how physicists understood and viewed particles. In 1947, he started his work on a broader elementary particle theory. Yukawa later died on September 8, 1981 in Japan. 

“Reality is complicated. There is no justification for all of the hasty conclusions.”

What was John Wheeler known for?

John Wheeler was born July 9, 1911 in Jacksonville, Florida. Wheeler was the first American physicist involved in the theoretical development of the atomic bomb. Wheeler even helped out with the Manhattan Project. He helped develop the hydrogen bomb in New Mexico, explained nuclear fission in terms of quantum physics and worked with nuclear weapons before pivoting to space research. 

Wheeler’s research included the unified field theory, as well as space-time continuum, and gravitation theories. This research with space and gravity led him to coin the term, “black hole” as well as “wormhole.”

Furthermore, Wheeler collaborated frequently with Albert Einstein; however, he never won a Nobel Peace Prize. Wheeler died on April 13, 2008 in Hightstown, New Jersey.

“We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.”

– John Wheeler

What was Homi Bhabha known for?

Hombi Bhabha was born October 30, 1909 in Bomby, India. He was a nuclear physicist who was a primary architect in India’s nuclear energy program. His work was mainly focused on quantum theory and cosmic radiation. Bhabha made a breakthrough theory on the cascade theory, which explains how electron showers and cosmic rays in outer space interact with different energies and altitudes.

Bhabha also became the first chairperson of the Atomic Energy Commission in India. Under his leadership, scientists helped make an atomic bomb. He continued his work in the nuclear and energy field and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for Physics. Unfortunately, he never won and tragically died in a plane crash on January 24, 1966, in Mont Blanc, France.

“My success will not depend on what A or B thinks of me. My success will be what I make of my work.”

– Hombi Bhabha

Related Posts:

• “The US’ Secret Weapon to Beat the Nazis? Inflatable Tanks” 
• “See the Harrowing Effects of Radiation in the 1900s”

The post 4 Famous Minds Come Together In This Amazing Photo first appeared on History In Memes.

As hard as it is to imagine, this is a real person’s hand. Specifically, this is the hand of X-ray technician Clarence Madison Dally. Clarence worked around X-Rays in their early days of development. Because of this, he was around massive amounts of radiation exposure.

So, how and why did his hand become so deeply decayed and damaged? Let’s dive in!

How Clarence Had His Hands Damaged

Clarence Madison Dally, born in 1865, was born to a family of glassblowers who worked for Edison Lamp Works. Clarence worked with his family after serving in the Navy for six years. He later went on to work as an assistant for Thomas Edison on incandescent lamp and X-ray experiments.

He was working as an X-ray technician when X-rays were an entirely new concept. At the time, people did not know the dangerous effects of massive amounts of exposure radiation on the body. Repeat and excessive radiation exposure from testing lead to Clarence developing cancer and significant radiation damage to his hands and face. 

What Happened to Clarence Madison Dally?

In an effort to stop the cancer and save his life, Clarence had both his arms amputated. These efforts were unsuccessful, as Clarence later died from cancer. As science has evolved, we have become more aware of the harmfulness of radiation and X-rays. We have also learned to limit our exposure and better protect ourselves. Because of his efforts and experimentation, Dally is thought to be the “first American to die from the effects of experimentation with radiation.” 

The Legacy of Clarence Madison Dally

Because of Clarence and his life’s work, we learned more about the dangers of X-rays and have made strides to protect ourselves.

Fast-forward to 2022, we know that excessive exposure to radiation has enough energy in it to cause damage to our DNA and cause cancer. This doesn’t just affect doctors and scientists. Anyone who gets an X-ray or a CT scan is exposing them to a set amount of radiation. 

Also, interestingly enough, when you are diagnosed with cancer you can undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy to kill the cancer in your body. Depending on which stage of cancer and how aggressive a form it is, the doctor will recommend an appropriate treatment. But in some instances to stop the cancer that is destroying your body you have to expose your body to radiation. We now know that radiation can also lead to a second cancer growing and long term health issues. 

While doctors and the medical field have long advanced from the days of Clarence Madison Dally, we still have a lot of work to do in terms of combatting terminal diseases and radiation exposure.

Like learning about historical photos? Check out the story behind this electrifying photo!

The post See the Harrowing Effects of Radiation in the 1900s first appeared on History In Memes.