Wild Insides
#Animals
The Songbird That Skewers Its Prey On Thorns
The shrike looks like a harmless little grey songbird, but its feet are too weak to hold prey.
Short. Strange. True.The real science
catnip · why cats love catnip · nepetalactone · cat behavior · cat facts · cats and mosquitoes
The real science
When a cat sniffs catnip, a chemical called nepetalactone reaches scent sensors in its nose, and its brain releases feel-good chemicals. About a third of cats and most kittens don't react at all. Lab studies found that the leaf oil a cat rubs into its fur keeps mosquitoes away.
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Follow the facts
- Science Advances: The characteristic response of domestic cats to plant iridoids
- iScience: Domestic cat damage to plant leaves containing iridoids enhances repellency
- Current Biology: The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip
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#Animals
The Parasite That Replaces A Fish's Tongue
The tongue-eating louse is a tiny ocean parasite that slips into a fish through its gills and clamps onto the tongue.
Short. Strange. True.The real science
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Why Your Cat Ignores Your Cake
Cats can't taste sweetness.
Short. Strange. True.The real science