Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cats Accidentally Solved a Physics Mystery

Season 53 | 6m 17s

For centuries, scientists have been baffled by how cats land on their feet. Figuring it out took several theories, calculations, and dropped cats. But it’s helped us understand everything from how to move in zero gravity to building better robots.

National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust and PBS viewers.
Extras
Here’s why centrifugal force is considered a “fictitious” force.
The story of the dolphin reveals how intelligence evolved, step by step, over billions of years.
MIT nuclear scientist Dennis Whyte on fusion energy and its potential today and tomorrow.
Inside the escalating military struggle to control space and the satellites we rely on.
Step into the stunning cave that’s reshaping our understanding of prehistoric art.
Cognitive scientist Federico Rossano on talking dogs, primates, and decoding animal communication.
Witness how Native North Americans have generated scientific knowledge over thousands of years.
Follow the relentless quest that led to a breakthrough treatment for a deadly disease.
Inside one mother's fight to ensure a healthy life for her child with cystic fibrosis.
Inside the race to bring life-saving genetic therapies to every person living with cystic fibrosis.