Summary
Scientists from Yamaguchi University in Japan discovered why cats can land on their feet. They found that cats have a very flexible part of their spine, which helps them twist in the air and land safely. This research may help improve treatments for cat spinal injuries and inspire the creation of more agile robots.
Key Facts
- Researchers found that a cat's thoracic spine is more flexible than its lumbar spine.
- This flexibility helps cats twist mid-air during a fall, a move known as the air-righting reflex.
- They examined cat spines to measure flexibility and used high-speed cameras to study cats' movements.
- Cats' thoracic spines can twist up to almost 50 degrees without much effort.
- The lumbar spine is stiffer and acts as a stabilizer during the fall.
- The study could help develop better models of animal movement and treatments for spinal injuries.
- The findings might also contribute to designing more agile robots based on the cats' movement.
