This adorable 2-year-old Rottweiler’s name is Brutus, and he gets around using four specially designed prosthetic paws!
Brutus was left out in the freezing cold as a puppy and developed frostbite. His owner decided to amputate all four paws, and eventually gave him up for adoption.
Lucky for Brutus, someone noticed him in a store parking lot in Colorado, where he was looking for a new home. Hundreds of people donated money to give Brutus a new lease on life and four new paws! Brutus’ new owner, Laura Aquilina, says she just wants to give Brutus the gift of being a regular dog.
Felix Deurr, an orthopedics professor at Colorado State University, says prosthetics like Brutus’ have only been around for about 15 years and not all dogs get used to them. A study reviewing their effectiveness is due out later this year.
According to NBC News, Brutus is the second dog in history to receive four prosthetic limbs.
Aquilina says if Brutus doesn’t take to the prosthetics, she will move on without them, but by the looks of this video, Brutus is doing just fine!
This plant has managed to grow for nearly 55 years on just one ‘drink’ of water and limited outside contact, eventually forming its own ecosystem.
David Latimer planted the garden on Easter Sunday in 1960. He placed compost, water, and spiderwort (Tradescantia) sprouts into a 10-gallon jug. 12 years later, he gave the plants a quick ‘drink,’ before sealing it for good. With that one exception, the garden has remained totally sealed – all it needs is plenty of sunlight!
Latimer spent over 40 years doing nothing more than rotating the bottle occasionally in the sun, as the plants grew isolated in the bottle. The question is, how did the plants survive? Turns out, it created its own ecosystem, effectively using photosynthesis to recycle nutrients!
You too can create your own ecosystem. All you need is a large bottle, potting soil, pebbles or stones, and plants. Watch the video below to find out how to make your own terrarium 🙂 I apologize ahead of time for the cheesy music.
Festo has unveiled a slew of new animal-inspired robotic creatures you need to see to believe.
I’d like to introduce you to Festo’s BionicANTs, eMotionButterflies, and FlexShapeGripper!
BionicANTs – ‘Highly integrated individual systems to solve a common task’
CREDIT: FESTO
The BionicANTs not only mimic the delicate anatomy of ants, but also their cooperative behavior. BionicANTs actually work together, under a clear set of rules, to coordinate their actions and movements. They even know when to branch off and use their ‘antennae’ to re-charge at the edge of their work space.
By pushing and pulling together, the ants are able to move an object across a defined area. This way, they are able to move loads that a single ant could not move alone. This technology seems playful, but it could greatly impact factories and production lines in the future.
Why ants? Ants are tough industrious workers that can carry a hundred times their own body weight. They live in big colonies with clear rankings and set rules. Ants know which tasks they need to fulfill, and they can work together to complete them.
eMotionButterflies – ‘Ultralight flying objects with collective behavior’
CREDIT: FESTO
These might be the most beautiful robots I’ve ever seen! You have to admit they look real. Except for the large ‘Festo’ logo printed on their wings 🙂
These artificial butterflies feature highly integrated on-board electronics, allowing them to activate their wings individually with precision. No human pilot is required to control the eMotionButterflies. Thanks to indoor GPS and a complicated camera system, the bionic insects know where to fly and how to avoid collisions.
The wings are curved out of wafer-thin carbon rods and covered with an elastic capacitor film, which helps keep the eMotionButterfly’s weight as low as possible and its flight as natural as possible.
Why butterflies? Butterflies begin the world as caterpillars and later emerge as colorful flying creatures. They have large wings and slim bodies, making them light and aerodynamic.
FlexShapeGripper – ‘Gripping modelled on a chameleon’s tongue’
CREDIT: FESTO
Gripping applications have always played a key role in production, which explains Festo’s interest in the chameleon’s highly specialized tongue. The chameleon has the ability to shoot its tongue out light a rubber band and wrap around objects like a suction cup.
The FlexShapeGripper’s water-filled silicone cap allows it to wrap itself around various items in a flexible and form-fitting manner, much like a chameleon!
Why a chameleon? Chameleons can more their eyes independently of each other and change the color of their skin depending on their mood and temperature. Their unique tongues help them attack and retract prey as quick as lightening
All three of these ‘biomimetic’ devices will be on display at the industry trade show Hannover Messe in April.
We are familiar with amphibians and reptiles that can change color, but this frog can actually change the texture of its skin! This unique feature makes it the only vertebrate known to do so.
Dubbed the ‘Punk Rocker’ frog, or Pristimantis mutabilis, the marble-sized amphibian lives in the rain forest of Ecuador. It was discovered by scientist Katherine Krynak in 2009. According to National Geographic, Krynak spotted the frog while on a nighttime walk, and decided to bring the thorny specimen back for closer observation. Once she got home, she saw the frog was slimy and smooth, not what she expected! Eventually, the spines reemerged, and Krynak realized she had made an incredible discovery.
Scientists believe the shifting skin texture serves as a form of camouflage in the wild, helping the frog blend into its mossy environment.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUAN M. GUAYASAMIN (RIGHT) AND LUCAS BUSTAMANTE (LEFT), THE ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
After 9 years, Krynak and her colleagues finally gathered enough data to prove it was a new species. Now, the frog finally has a formal name: the mutable rainfrog, or Pristimantis mutabilis. But, we’re going to keep calling it the ‘Punk Rocker’ frog 🙂
A baby sloth bear was born at NaturZoo Rheine in Germany in December, but it was kept under wraps so the newborn could bond with its mother in peace.
Little Niko, born to his mother Devi and father Franz, greeted the world on December 6, 2014.
The first few months of a sloth bear’s life are crucial. According to NaturZoo Rheine’s Facebook page, newborn sloth bears are blind, nearly hairless, and about the size of a guinea pig. Niko spent the first few months of his life alone with his mother in a dark, sound-proof room, under the watchful eye of a hidden camera. At that age, his father is kept separate because he is considered a threat to the baby’s health.
Sloth bear births in zoos are very rare and caring for them can be challening. According to NaturZoo Rheine, there are just 25 sloth bears currently living in European zoos.
Niko is just now beginning to explore his outdoor surroundings, so stay tuned to the NaturZoo Rheine Facebook page for updates!
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Photo: National Geographic
The reclusive sloth bear lives in the forests of South Asia, feeding on fruits, flowers, termites, ants, and other insects. They have special long, curved claws that allow them to dig deep into nest mounds to find food.
These nocturnal animals tend to keep to themselves. They usually rock a shaggy black coat with a cream-colored snout, and their chest is occasionally marked with a light ‘V’ or ‘Y’ design.
Sloth bears can live up to 40 years in the wild and grow to be nearly 300 pounds! Unfortunately, sloth bears are incredibly vulnerable, threatened by habitat loss and sometimes capture.
Fun Fact: Sloth bears carry their cubs on their back! This is considered a unique trait among bears.
Krystian Science 