Tech News

Starck’s Dog Desk Will Actually Help Kids Do Their Homework

In a surprising turn of events, students around the world might soon be crediting their dog for actually helping them complete their homework, instead of using man’s best friend as a scapegoat. But that assumes that every student has access to this adorable dog desk designed by Philippe Starck. Made from moulded polyethylene plastic and … Continued

Tech News

A Rain-Detecting Automatic Pet Door That Keeps Them Inside and Dry

On one hand, having a pet door installed means you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to let your dog or cat out. But on the other hand, it also gives your pet access to a possibly wet and muddy yard whenever they want. Which is why the Petwalk automatic pet … Continued

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The most adorable Han Solo and Chewbacca are this kid and his dog

This is the cutest, and it’ll fill your heart with joy for the rest of the day. Who doesn’t want to dress up in costumes and take pictures with man’s best friend? Photographer Rocio Preciado of Cuije Photo did this shoot, explaining it this way: Once upon a time, in a galaxy not so far … Continued

io9

Why the Brains of Dogs and Humans Are More Similar Than You Think

As any dedicated dog owner will tell you, canines often appear to grasp the emotional content of what’s being said to them. An unprecedented brain scanning study now shows this is likely true — and that this capability pre-dates domestication. This is not the first time dogs have been studied in an MRI scanner. Last … Continued

Tech News

Scientists Find Striking Similarities Between Human and Dog Brains

It’s funny watching dogs do human things. It’s funny to watch them drive cars. It’s funny to watch them sit in chairs. But, seriously, new research shows that dogs actually are just like us. At least they are when it comes to processing voices and emotion—and, now, we’ve got the brain scans to prove it. … Continued

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This massive hound is still growing!

Freddy the 18-month old pup is 41 inches, from his paws to his shoulder blades, and still growing. And he was the runt of the litter! Freddy is well on his way to being the world’s largest dog (the world’s biggest dog is 44 inches blades to paws). He may be a giant, but he … Continued

Tech News

The Most Unusual Sports in Winter Olympics History

Everybody gets the gist of the Winter Olympics. Skiing, hockey, figure skating, various sled races—we’re all familiar with the classics. But did you know that dogs once competed in the Winter Olympics? Have you heard of the sport that’s a cross between hockey and soccer? The Olympics used to be weird, man. Over the decades, … Continued

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The world’s oldest cancer is 11,000 years old — and contagious

Scientists have finally unlocked the sequence of the world’s oldest surviving cancer — an 11,000-year-old, sexually-transmitted genital cancer that still affects dogs today. Scientists from the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, led by Elizabeth Murchison, published the new research in Science. The cancer first arose in a single dog over 11,000 … Continued

Tech NewsSploid

A simple chart shows how the dogs we love today evolved from a wolf

How did we get from wolves to dogs of all sizes? How do pugs and chihuahuas and pit bulls and English bulldogs and German shepherds and so forth all come from the big Grey Wolf? Evolution! We domesticated wolves by adopting cubs and feeding them and slowly changing their habits. Over generations, the wolves changed … Continued

io9

The aliens had picked the perfect bodies for surveillance

It is best to observe the humans in their natural habitat by taking on the form of a natural human ally. At least, that’s what Queen Layla and Princess Delilah thought. This photograph by Xan Latta just got picked by Colossal as one of the best Flickr photos of 2014 so far. See more by … Continued

Tech NewsSploid

Hilarious guy recreates famous movie scenes with a dog

How do you top a couple that recreates movie scenes with their adorable baby? By recreating famous scenes with a dog. Yeah, it’s beautiful inspired work that should make us all want to grab our pet best friend in a warm embrace like Gosling did to McAdams. Redditor user mmsspp is the awesome guy in … Continued

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Dogs align their bodies along a North-South axis when they poop

Ever wonder why dogs need to get themselves into just the right position to do their business? As it turns out, dogs align their body axis according to Earth’s magnetic field when they squat to poop—a behavior that changes when the magnetic field is unstable. But why do they do it? The results of this … Continued

Tech NewsSploid

Happiness is seeing happy dogs happily stick their heads out of cars

Let’s end the year on a happy note. And happiness is this photo series by photographer Lara Jo Regan. Called Dogs in Cars, it’s photo after photo of well, dogs sticking their heads out of moving cars. Is there anything in the world more joyful than seeing that? I don’t think so. PetaPixel says that … Continued

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Dogs that look more like puppies have an evolutionary advantage

In many ways, dogs appear and behave more like wolf puppies than wolf adults. Scientists have theorized that these “paedomorphic” features are the byproduct of selecting dogs against aggression. But a new study suggests this is no byproduct at all, but rather the result of a human preference for puppy-like facial expressions. How wolves were … Continued

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The Heroic Parachuting Dogs of D-Day

On the eve of the Normandy invasion, three planes carrying the members of Britain’s 13th Battalion took off for France. In addition to the 60 men aboard, each plane carried one dog. The story of how these paratrooping canines got there — and what happened next — is nothing short of remarkable. Lazar Backovic has … Continued

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This dog and cheetah are best friends and it is the best thing

What’s more fun than watching a cheetah romp around in freshly fallen snow? Watching a cheetah romp around in freshly fallen snow with her best friend WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A DOG. Oh wow, am I seriously tearing up right now? This footage was shot at the Cincinnati Zoo’s “cheetah yard,” where Savanna the … Continued

Tech NewsSploid

How a century of dog breeding ruined these beautiful animals

Watching how one hundred years of dog breeding “improvement” actually ruined perfectly beautiful, athletic, and useful dogs, turning them into a caricature of themselves full of health problems, is really sad. Just look at the deformation endured by the bull terrier above these lines. Science of Dogs collected these old photos from Breeds of All … Continued

Tech News

The best gifts for true dog lovers

First of all: if you don’t have a dog, please think hard before getting one these holidays. It’s a huge responsibility. They are sentient, sensitive beings who will love you all their life, not toys. But if you’re a true dog lover, then dive in with us and share your favorite gifts with your fellow … Continued

ScienceBiology

Exploding Dogs Were Used as Mobile Anti-Tank Mines During World War II

Today I found out about the use of exploding anti-tank dogs during World War II. These dogs, usually Alsatians, were also called “Hundminen” or “dog mines.” They were trained to carry explosives on their bodies to enemy tanks, where they would then be detonated. No, it did not end very well for the dogs in … Continued

Tech News

A Woof-Activated Washing Machine Lets Support Dogs Run a Load

Ending the dogs vs. cats superiority debate once and for all, UK-based appliance maker JTM Service has developed a washing machine that can actually be operated by support dogs trained to assist those living with disabilities. The machines are even bark-activated, since dogs are notoriously bad at pushing buttons. Support dogs are already trained to … Continued