FD: v8 (First Timers)

DOG SLOBS:   Dogs are absolute slobs. They leave their water bowl with water all over the place and dripping from their snouts.

DOG SLOBS: Scientists learned that when dogs drink, they curl their tongue like a fruit roll.

DOG SLOBS:   Dogs hit the water hard with their tongue like a hammer. Their tongue plows into the water with a splash.

DOG SLOBS:   Dogs rapidly withdraw their tongue after they hit the water with their tongue.

The bouncing water sticks to the tongue because of adhesion.

ELEGANT CATS:   Cats have rough sandpaper tongues, but the very tip of their tongue is rough like a rose bush.

ELEGANT CATS:   Cat’s tongues descend to the water bowl and the bent smooth part of the tongue makes contact with the water but doesn’t pierce it.

ELEGANT CATS:   Computers were checked for what the best lapping speed would be for cats to get the most water in their mouth with each movement of the tongue. The cats had exactly the right speed.

ELEGANT CATS:   Scientists calculated the best tongue speed for larger cats like the lion, tiger and leopard. The big cats, however, did not have the speed exactly right for their huge tongues.

ELEGANT CATS:   Scientists are studying these hi-tech tongues and also elephant trunks and octopus tentacles in hopes of making super-sophisticated moon landers.

ELEGANT CATS:   When we study living things and then apply what we learn to technology, it is called biomimicry.