Happy Wednesday!
*psst* We’re working on something exciting for after Labor day (hint: daily facts, fun activities, a place for parents and teachers to connect, and more). Stay tuned!
In the meantime, ever wonder how many books you have left to read?
Here’s what we’ve got this week:
TRIVIA
Animal chefs? 🧑🍳
Which animal does NOT prepare its food before eating?
Explanation at the end!
ANIMAL FOCUS
Pikas 🐭
Thanks to Nathan for asking us about pikas!
They make winter haystacks! Pikas spend all summer collecting thousands of plants, drying them in the sun, and stacking them for winter food. They even steal from each other when no one is looking! 🌸
They’re tiny but loud! Their sharp “eep” calls can be heard from 100 feet away and warn other pikas about danger. 📣
They live at extreme heights! Pikas survive in the Rocky Mountains and Himalayas, even above where trees grow! They are one of the few mammals that live their whole lives above 13,000 feet. 🏔️
They’re super organized! One pika can gather plants from hundreds of spots and build a haystack over 3 feet wide and weighing up to 60 pounds! They even sort the plants by type and by which ones they should eat first! 🌱
Snow keeps them warm! A thick snow layer acts like a blanket over their rocky homes, keeping the temperature underneath warm enough to survive even when the air above is freezing. ❄️
Want more? 🎥 See nature’s cutest thieves in action
EVER WONDER?
Why are tigers orange? 🐯
This week’s question comes from Freya!
Deer see colors differently 🦌
Humans have three kinds of cone cells in their eyes to see red, green, and blue.
Deer only have two kinds of cone cells, so reds, oranges, and greens look almost the same to them. A tiger’s bright orange fur looks more like dull yellow-brown, which helps it blend in with plants.
However, deer have more rod cells, which help them see better in dim light. So even though deer aren’t as good at identifying colors, they’re much better at noticing small movements in the dark!
What about the stripes? 🥷
A tiger’s black stripes look like shadows in tall grass, making it harder for deer to spot the tiger’s shape until it’s very close!
How humans see tigers vs. how deer see tigers
PICKS OF THE WEEK
💻 The world’s most important (and advanced) machine
🐈 4 common cat myths (including why milk is actually bad for them!)
🚶 Why only humans sleepwalk
BRAIN TRIVIA
Magic Square: Fill in the grid so every row, column, and diagonal adds up to 54.
Philip Marazzi | 2016 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography awards
Thanks for reading! Stay curious!
- Steve
P.S. Crows crack nuts and soak food in water, Japanese macaques wash potatoes in water before eating them, big-headed ants use enzymes from their larvae to pre-digest food, and shrikes hang toxic prey on thorns until the toxins break down!
P.P.S. Have an animal or science question you’d like us to feature? Just hit ‘Reply’ and tell us!