Cats and the Laws of Physics

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/09/falling-dropped-cat-reflex-physics/671424/

by silt • 4 years ago

34 12 4 years ago

theatlantic.com

nyc111• 4 years ago

Cannot read it, behind paywall.

ebw• 4 years ago

Who does this? It's maddening.

klyrs• 4 years ago

People who don't want their website to be a 100% loss? I hate paywalls too, but the alternative is so many ads you can't find the article.

wizofaus• 4 years ago

Is it having to pay, or the hassle of having to set up payment that's maddening? If I knew clicking on a link to an article I believed was worth reading would cause my credit card to be charged a few cents, I honestly wouldn't be bothered at all. But I am bothered by the hassle of setting up an account (often with some significant minimum spend, or ongoing subscription you have to remember to cancel), filling in my details, worried about whether my payment details are being stored safely etc. etc.

skyechurch• 4 years ago

https://archive.ph/HZkHR

bell-cot• 4 years ago

set js="off"

dredmorbius• 4 years ago

<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32955011>

<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10178989>

<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30430760>

macintux• 4 years ago

The discussion of cats’ contortions reminded me of Mark Rober’s endearing YT videos analyzing how squirrels managed his backyard mazes.

IIRC, the first one takes a close look at how quickly squirrels lock in on their destination after being launched into the air.

https://youtu.be/hFZFjoX2cGg

https://youtu.be/DTvS9lvRxZ8

youainti• 4 years ago

Smarter every day had a video on how cats conserve angular momentum.

dillutedfixer• 4 years ago

"Cats do not abide by the laws of physics."

-- Charlie Kelly

MisterTea• 4 years ago

They're incredibly fast, agile and acrobatic. I have two, brothers, one of whom is a ball of energy while the other is the opposite. If I am going down from the second floor to the first, mr energy will always run ahead of me and dash down the stairs. Of course he doesn't just turn and run down as that is too easy. Instead he charges the wall next to the steps, then in a blink of an eye turns sideways, takes a few steps along the wall and then twists to run down the steps. He actually ninja walks the wall at a 90 degree angle to the ground for a brief moment in time. All so he doesn't have to stop or slow down to turn down the steps. He maintains velocity in a near 90 degree turn. He's about 11 now so he doesn't do it as impressively or as fast but still has the ability.

williamscales• 4 years ago

Also discussed in the Radiolab episode "Falling": https://radiolab.org/episodes/91726-falling

Cats and the Laws of Physics

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