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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Shots - Health News

Bacteria On Dog Lovers' Skin Reveal Their Affection

Should we say Germ-an shepherd? Mango Doucleff, of Washington, shows off the bacteria living on her tongue, which also flourish on her owner's skin.

April 18, 2013 Dog owners have similar germs growing on their skin: a signature blend of bacteria from canines' tongues and paws. Scientists couldn't find an analogous signature for cat owners. Perhaps cats are just being selfish.

Summary

Sunday, February 03, 2013

13.7: Cosmos And Culture

Do We Really Know That Cats Kill By The Billions? Not So Fast

A domestic cat resting outdoors in the green grass.

February 3, 2013 Murderous cats are in the headlines this week. Commentator and cat-rescuer Barbara J. King questions the reliability of the new, extreme cat-killer statistics, which appear in a "meta-study" that she says makes some questionable assumptions.

Summary

Thursday, January 24, 2013

13.7: Cosmos And Culture

House Cat-Odyssey Highlights The Mysteries Of Animal Migration

A Sandhill Crane flies in at sunset to roost for the night in the wetlands of the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge in Colorado. Migrating along the same route they've followed for thousands of years, about 25,000 Greater Sandhill Cranes pass through the San Luis Valley in late winter every year.

January 24, 2013 The habits of migrating whales, birds, and insects all yield key data for the science of animal navigation. But as commentator Barbara J. King explains, Holly the housecat's 200-mile journey back home has left scientists puzzled

Summary

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Shots - Health News

Could Genes For Stripes Help Kitty Fight Disease?

The genetic factors responsible for a cat's stripes might help researchers understand disease resistance in humans.

September 20, 2012 Different lineages of cat with the same coloration got their looks in unique ways. The genetic variants that determine those patterns come from different mutations in the same genes. And that has some scientists thinking there may be more to the genes than meets the eye.

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Monday, August 13, 2012

The Two-Way

Fans Of 'The Office,' This Video's For You: Cat Drops From Ceiling

Just dropping in. A frame grab from video of what happened when a cat fell from the ceiling in a Costa Rican classroom. It appeared to be just fine afterward.

August 13, 2012 It was quite a surprise when a cat dropped into a classroom. The video will remind those who watch The Office of what happened to Angela's cat Bandit when there was a fire drill. Check out that video too.

Summary

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Shots - Health News

Internet's Cat Obsession Justifies Itself In Cancer Ward

Maga Barzallo Sockemtickem, 16, received a bone-marrow transplant at Seattle Children's Hospital in 2011 for leukemia and returned in July 2012 for follow-up treatment. On July 25, an artist at the hospital set up a cat photo installation in her room.

August 8, 2012 An artist at a Seattle hospital turned a teenage leukemia patient's room into an art installation using nearly 2,000 photos of cats solicited through social media. "In the hospital, you feel cut off," says the patient. "So the photos made me feel like I was part of the world again."

Summary

Monday, July 02, 2012

Shots - Health News

A Parasite Carried By Cats Could Increase Suicide Risk

What's the link between cats and madness?

July 2, 2012 A study of more than 45,000 women in Denmark finds an association between suicide attempts and infection with a common parasite. The findings don't prove the parasite is the cause, but they add more evidence to a hypothesis that's been gaining momentum.

Summary

Thursday, June 14, 2012

13.7: Cosmos And Culture

When Animals Love Us Back

A white and tan cat

June 14, 2012 For commentator Barbara J. King, it's one thing to study the ins and outs of animal emotion as part of her day job. It's quite another when she shares up-close the emotions expressed by some of the 26 cats, including strays and ferals, under her care.

Summary

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Monkey See

Five Things You Absolutely, Positively Have To Know About March Madness

The University of Alabama's players celebrate their No. 8 seeding in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament while watching Sunday's selection show in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide, a veteran bunch, will play the upstart mid-major Creighton on Friday.

March 13, 2012 Filling out a bracket for the NCAA men's basketball tournament doesn't have to be grueling. With the lessons in this simple guide, you might even be able to fill out a bracket better than a pair of lazy cats.

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Saturday, January 07, 2012

The Salt

Mystery Solved: Why The Cat Craves Mushrooms (And People Do, Too)

Why do cats have an affinity for mushrooms?

January 7, 2012 Why would a cat crave mushrooms? A scientist says it's the umami. Though cats can't taste sweetness like people can, they are aces at sniffing out the amino acids that signal protein-rich foods.

Summary

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

The Two-Way

An Elusive Clouded Leopard, Ready For Its Closeup

A screengrab image taken from a rare video of the Sumatran Sundaland Clouded Leopard.

March 2, 2011 A first-of-its kind video of "nature's most elusive big cat" has emerged. The Sumatran Sundaland clouded leopard was given its own distinct species label in 2007.

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Friday, May 21, 2010

Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!

Mindless Arcade Friday: Sushi Cat

May 21, 2010 We review Sushi Cat, a dumb but wonderful online game.

Summary

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Blog Of The Nation

Muffy, Fluffy, Tinkerbell, and Audrey

A cat.

September 27, 2007 Should dogs be allowed in Saks? Or the frozen food aisle? Is it rude, or just irritating, to take your pet to the store?

Summary

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