• In its visionOS 2 press release in June, Apple said an update to Final Cut Pro for the Mac will add the ability to edit spatial videos recorded with devices like iPhone 15 Pro models, any iPhone 16 model, or the Canon EOS R7 mirrorless camera with a spatial video lens that recently became available for pre-order. Spatial videos have 3D depth and can be viewed on Apple's Vision Pro headset.


• In the Mac mini announcement video, Apple said the Final Cut Pro update will enable users to instantly apply AI-generated effects to videos. In the visionOS 2 press release from June, Apple similarly mentioned the upcoming ability to add "immersive titles and effects" to videos. It seems plausible that the new AI features in Final Cut Pro could have Apple Intelligence branding, but this is not certain.


• In the Mac mini video, Apple also previewed automatic AI-generated captions for videos in Final Cut Pro, eliminating the need to use caption plugins or other software. This feature has been long awaited amid the rise of short-form videos with captions across TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.


• An image of Final Cut Pro in the Mac mini video showed an unreleased "Magnetic Mask" feature. While no details are known about this feature, it will likely allow users to isolate moving objects in the foreground to remove them, add text behind them, apply color grading, or so on. This feature will likely be similar to MotionVFX's mRotoAI plugin for Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve's Magic Mask feature.

Is there one simple yet impactful design choice that can make urban housing more family-friendly and safe for children? According to Alexandra Lange, the answer is yes: the courtyard apartment building.

As noted by Jenny French of design firm French 2D, “In an urban setting, the barrier that the contemporary parent has to letting their child out the door, thinking about the car-dominated city where they are unable to play in the street – the courtyard is a natural alternative.”

Lange offers examples from around the country, showing how thoughtfully designed courtyard apartments offer a way for children and neighbors to safely play and interact. “For Brunson Terrace, a 48-unit, 100% affordable project which opened in Santa Monica in 2024, Los Angeles architects Brooks + Scarpa left its modest ground-level courtyard to the kids, with bright climbing structures surrounded by organic planting beds. Exterior bridges, stairs and walkways provide access to quieter seating areas. They also make circulation more fun and functional: laundry rooms are located adjacent to the stairs, so caregivers can do chores with an ear out for their kids playing below.”

Courtyards don’t have to belong to the past. While textbook examples in brick and stone are lovely — and still home to thriving communities — contemporary architects are making courts in all sorts of materials, and for all types of housing, from apartments to townhomes.

As Lange points out, “Courtyard housing also offers a powerful salve for the housing affordability crisis. Most courtyard housing is also ‘missing middle housing’ — defined as multifamily projects ranging from accessory dwelling units and duplexes to mid-rise apartment buildings — most of which could easily be arranged around common green space.”

• Courtyards
• Apartment Buildings
• Affordable Housing
• Children
• Family-Friendly Neighborhoods
• Families
• Children and cities

1. Where 2024 Presidential Candidates Stand on 12 Issues Important to Urban Planners

This blog was published prior to Election Day last Tuesday, but it is still a good place to start if you’re wondering what a Trump presidency could mean for urban planning in the U.S. over the next four years.

2. Commentary: How Can We Solve America’s Affordable Housing Crisis? CDFIs are the Key

Bernel Hall offers his perspective as president and CEO of the largest community development financial institution in New Jersey on how CDFIs can be important partners to ensure public-private efforts to build affordable housing pencil out.

3. America’s 10 ‘Greenest’ Cities

An analysis from Wallet Hub ranks cities based on their environmental quality, energy consumption and production, transportation, density, and other factors.

4. San Diego Begins to See Results of State Housing Law

A local news outlet reports that homeowners in Southern California are starting to take advantage of a state law that allows lot splitting and higher density in residential areas, which was passed to increase housing supply and affordability.

5. Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley

Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area, reports the Modesto Bee.

6.  New Jersey Towns Call for Suspension of Affordable Housing Law

According to the Gothamist, close to two dozen municipalities are suing New Jersey, arguing that the affordable housing requirements mandated by the Mount Laurel Doctrine are unrealistic and discriminate against suburban communities.

7. How the Post-Covid Reality Is Reshaping Central Business Districts and Urban Centers

This feature story by Wes Guckert explores how U.S. cities are working to redefine their downtowns in response to the “donut effect”: people and businesses abandoning city centers and flocking to suburban areas and beyond.

8. Project 2025 and Housing Policy

Michael Lewyn weighed in on the Heritage Foundation’s list of policy proposals for the next Republican administration. In the wake of President-Elect Donald Trump’s win, readers appear to be brushing up on it.

9. Commentary: New Bill Holds Key to Solving US Housing Crisis. We Just Have to Pass It.

Architect Jordan Rogove gives context on how two bills currently moving through Congress could make mass production of prefabricated, affordable housing possible on a large scale.

10. It’s Now Legal to Jaywalk in New York City

CNN travel reports that, for the first time since 1958, pedestrians in New York City are free to cross the street without adhering to traffic signals or marked crosswalks.

• “Unfunded inclusionary zoning is not inclusionary. To fix it, fund it,” says Dan Bertolet . (Sightline Institute)
• Fully automated vehicles aren’t quite here yet, but lawmakers in Alabama, California, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Washington D.C. are getting proactive. (Stateline)
• A 2023 federal program that uses the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) programs to finance housing development near transportation has yet to close on any loan for housing projects. (GlobeSt)
• Nationwide’s 2024 Driving Behaviors Survey shows traffic deaths occur more frequently on a rural road versus a city street. (Farm Bureau)
• In this video, Wall Street Journal sat down with train manufacturer Alstom to explore what a perfected commuter train could look like. (The Wall Street Journal)

Planetizen’s latest YouTube video tells the story of the 57-year battle to stop trucks from decapitating people, which began with Jane Mansfield’s tragic death in 1967, the creation of the “Mansfield bar,” and ongoing fight to strengthen safety regulations to prevent underride crashes between large trucks and smaller vehicles.

Be sure to give it a like and subscribe to Planetizen’s YouTube channel for more great video content.

• Top Stories

Orphan oil and gas wells, abandoned with no responsible party, present significant environmental and health hazards across the U.S., especially in communities with a strong history of fossil fuel production. These sites release harmful pollutants, such as methane, contributing to air and water pollution and elevating climate change risks. As the nation transitions toward cleaner energy, addressing these orphan wells is crucial for environmental justice, particularly in marginalized communities that bear the brunt of pollution. By converting some of these hazardous areas into parks and public spaces, local governments and community advocates can help foster healthier environments and provide recreational spaces that benefit both individual well-being and community health.

Remediating orphan wells opens pathways to repurposing these areas into much-needed parks, enhancing green spaces, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. Parks offer more than just recreational areas; they improve air quality, provide spaces for physical and mental wellness, and help mitigate urban heat. This transformation aligns with the goals of a "just transition," prioritizing the communities most impacted by fossil fuel decline in recovery and restoration efforts. In regions where orphan wells are concentrated in densely populated, underserved areas, remediated sites can become valuable resources, addressing both public health concerns and the historical lack of accessible green spaces.

However, challenges such as high remediation costs and competing land-use interests complicate efforts to turn orphan well sites into parks. Parks and recreation advocates and professionals must navigate financial constraints, competition from commercial or residential developers, and community needs, making the case that green spaces offer long-term environmental and social benefits. Public-private partnerships may help bridge funding gaps but must be carefully managed to ensure that community interests and accessibility are preserved. With collaborative action and a focus on equitable outcomes, these remediated sites can be transformed into vibrant, accessible public spaces that benefit communities now and in the future.

• Orphan Wells
• Oil Drilling
• Environmental Justice
• Fossil Fuels
• Oil Wells
• Pollution
• Public Health

If your monitor hurts your eyes, a problem sometimes referred to as computer vision syndrome, there isn’t just one thing that could be the culprit. Instead, there are a host of problems that could be affecting your eyes. A few simple steps can provide clues as to whether or not your monitor is damaging your eyes. They can also suggest some other possible causes, basic fixes, and what to look for in your next monitor. This is not medical advice and you should absolutely talk to your eye doctor about any and all issues. 

With the rise of computer-based work, those experiencing eye pain are more likely to blame their monitor today than ever. It isn’t an entirely unfounded belief, either, with one study in Nature suggesting that the use of electronic devices like computer, laptops, phones, and tablets for as low as three hours a day could contribute to “computer vision syndrome.”

Symptoms include watering of the eyes, double vision, dryness of the eyes, and generic eye pain among others recognized in a cross-sectional study of computer vision syndrome. In other words, any sort of pain or discomfort related to the use of screens is part of the syndrome. If you find your eyes hurting while looking at (or just after looking at) screens then you could be affected and it’s worth mentioning to your doctor.

However, it’s important that noticing a few symptoms isn’t the same as a real diagnosis. You could have simply developed another issue while using screens, as most of us do use screens on a regular basis. For example, BlueCross BlueShield recognizes dry eye as the most common eye problem, citing that it can result in itchy, red eyes and blurred vision — all symptoms of computer vision syndrome. While taking a good look at your monitor and monitor health is a good idea, going to see a doctor or ophthalmologist may also be highly beneficial.

There are several possible problems that can arise from too much staring into a monitor. Here are some common possible culprits.

If your monitor is at an incorrect height, you’ll probably feel it in your neck at some point. However, a study conducted in an office environment suggests that higher screens cause eye strain at a greater rate than lower screens. Most people prefer a screen that they can look at head on or that is somewhat lower (as low as -16 degrees) for comfort. Your monitor likely has a height-adjustment feature, so if you find that it is too high, go ahead and take the time to adjust it now. Alternatively, consider picking up a monitor arm for easy and precise adjustment.

“If you sit too close to your TV, you’ll go blind!” sounds like the parental advice of a bygone era, especially with how close we are to our monitors and phones each day. But is there something to viewing distance after all?

In the same study mentioned above, participants were shown to prefer viewing distances between 60 and 100 cm (from about 2 ft. to 3 ft. 4 in. away). Screens closer than the preferred distance were shown to cause increased visual strain. Physical moving your monitor on your desk or your chair’s location can help. You can also use a monitor wall mount if you happen to use a narrow desk.

Monitor size is rather tricky to get right, and you’ll hear several opinions about it, all backed up with their own research. To sum up the complex, a smaller computer monitor is likely going to be better for your eyes but there are cases for larger screens, too.

If you research screen size and eye health, you’ll likely come across mentions of a BMC Ophthalmology study on eye accommodation when using smart devices, where the smaller screen was more damaging. However, this study utilized the iPhone XR and a 9.7 inch iPad, both notably not monitors, and also not used in the stationary way that monitors are. Additionally, it focused on specific measurements of eye convergence ability instead of overall eye comfort.

When we look at more typical use patterns for monitors, however, and overall eye health, the results are different. It seems that smaller screens are better. According to optometrist Dr. Jennifer Lyerly in an interview with OCuSOFT, smaller screens are much more comfortable to the eyes. In the interview, she notes a study that showed workers who use small laptop screens report less eye symptoms than those who use large monitors. She attributes this to our behavior when using screens. Larger screens mean our eyes are opened wider and we’re blinking less, giving us less time with healthy and protective “tears” on our eyeball surface.

Refresh rate and screen flickering could be the issue, but are somewhat unlikely to be. Humans quit sensing images as individuals and start to perceive them as flowing objects around 50Hz, or 50 unique images per second. (Dogs, on the other hand, see unique images until around 75Hz, which is why dogs couldn’t watch TV in the past.) Below this rate you may suffer from an often unperceived screen flickering. However, the typical lower bound for monitors today is 60Hz, which should greatly reduce if not outright eliminate eye-fatiguing screen flickering from refresh rate sources.

You’ll also note that many of our favorite monitors for eye strain clock in at that 60Hz level and beyond. That’s because screen flickering can be reduced further in other ways than just increasing the refresh rate. For example, ViewSonic flicker-free technology uses a single continuous light source instead of rapid light source cycling to change brightness levels.

Conclusion: Higher refresh rates are likely to help your screen experience. Finding a screen that emphasizes being flicker-free or flicker reduction can help even more.

Most people prefer higher resolution imagery for the sharper details and clearer picture, but is there anything more to it than that? According to the science, the results are pretty inconclusive:

• One 2022 report from the Review of Optometry suggests higher resolution screens might reduce digital eye fatigue as they reduce accommodative lag (the time it takes for your eye to focus on an object that’s closer than the one previously looked at).
• A 2016 study comparing a 4K curved TV to an FHD TV led the researchers to conclude that 4K resolutions (on TVs!) might be worse for people with some relatively rare eye movement patterns.

Furthermore, while recent studies suggest that people rate and enjoy 8K images more than 4K images (though whether they can fully perceive them is still up in the air) there is little to conclusively say that they affect eye fatigue at all.

Conclusion: Upgrade to a 4K monitor for the looks, but don’t count on it affecting your eyes.

Blue light often receives sweeping condemnation for every type of eye strain, but it’s more complicated than that. Given adjectives like “harmful” or even “deadly” by manufacturers with blue-light filtering built-in to their monitors, it is easy to get panicky. Research suggests, however, that blue light isn’t the enemy you might have been led to think it is. It can, however, affect your sleep physiology and sleeplessness could be affecting your eyes.

Don’t worry about the blue light and instead make a plan to avoid sleep loss from screen light (of all colors).

If your monitor hurts your eyes, it could be from your screen’s brightness level. In fact, one big tip from the American Association of Ophthalmologists (AAO) is to simply reduce glare and brightness. Screens with matte finishes reduce brightness from glare while the screen’s brightness and contrast controls can tone down the bright light.

QLED, OLED, and mini-LED backlighting styles are all the rage in consumer TVs these days and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a quality TV without one of them. But, now that they’re sneaking into monitor tech, could they be hurting our eyes?

The answer is likely “no” but the full research is still coming out. For example, a 2020 study showed that while OLED tech still damaged eye cells in culture, it was less harmful than LED lighting for tested parameters. However, at this point there are still few accessible studies about this tech, QLED, or their long-term effects on the eyes. 

As a final piece of advice, part of the reason your monitor hurts your eyes may not be from the monitor at all, so much as your behavior. If your eyes are focused on something near for too long without a break, tension builds. Looking away in the distance periodically helps.

For a long time, when it came to preventing eye strain, the rule of thumb was the 20-20-20 rule: “Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.” However, with the pandemic and more work-from-home jobs, there has been more scrutiny on the 20-20-20 rule from academics.

Still, optometrists will tell you that looking away from your screen periodically helps.That’s because, while the 20-20-20 rule is iffy, optometrists will still tell you the data suggests taking near work breaks may be beneficial. So, take a break from work or stare out the window periodically, optometrists are telling you to!

If you want to make sure your next monitor does not hurt your eyes, doing a bit of research on various monitors and monitor types will certainly help. Here, we’ll look at some of the most important things to look for in a new monitor. But, before we get started, also consider buying a computer monitor screen protector for eyes for your current monitor if you want to save it. Those with matte finish ones being particularly useful for stopping glare.

Also note that if you find that some monitors hurt your eyes quickly (as do I, personally) it is always fine to go into a store and stare at them for a moment. Best Buy, Walmart, and Staples all have monitors on display for a reason.

TÜV Rheinland provides a number of safety and other certifications, with one of the more prominent ones for the tech-oriented being the TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort Certification. The latest 2023 certifications check for everything from flickers to ambient light management. While not having this certification does not imply that a monitor is bad for your eyes, it can give you peace of mind when choosing a new monitor. Manufacturers will proudly show off this certification since they had to pay for testing, so it won’t be hard to find out if an individual monitor has it.

Curved monitors allow us to quickly view a larger area of screen with less movement of the eyes. Your peripheral can check the edges and the screen shape is not dissimilar to your curved eye shape. Indeed, a 2016 study found participants had less eye strain and blurred-vision when searching for information on curved monitors than flat ones.

If you’ve checked out the best curved monitors, you’ll know that they have a curve rating expressed in R, which represents the distance in millimeters you should sit away from it to be in the circle it’d make. What R rating is best, though? Another 2016 study using flat, 1000R, 2000R, 3000R, and 4000R monitors found that 1000R was significantly better than flat monitors in eye pain scores from users.

Conclusion: Curved monitors are better for eye strain than flat monitors, and 1000R monitors are shown to be better for eye pain.

If you’re interested in using a TV as a monitor, you aren’t alone. And, typically, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with it from an eye health standpoint. However, since TVs are made to be placed far away and tend to be bigger, it is possible you might find the experience mildly uncomfortable. It is probably better to go for a monitor designed with flicker-free tech and with the eyes in mind than a TV, but a smaller TV shouldn’t do anything harmful to your eyes.

Remember, your eye health is important and while it may seem that your monitor is the source of your eye problems, there may be other things wrong, so please be sure to check with an eye doctor if problems persist. However, remember that most of the eye strain from working at home isn’t going to hurt your eyes in the long run. Adjust your current monitor, change your settings, or grab a new monitor to get the right fit for you and you’ll likely be good to go without a panic.

The post Why your computer screen hurts your eyes (and how to help) appeared first on Popular Science.

The Biden administration moved swiftly to limit oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which the previous Trump administration opened up for more extraction.

According to a CNN article by Ella Nilsen, a Trump-era law requires a lease sale for fossil fuel drilling by the end of 2024. “The Biden administration signaled Wednesday it plans to move forward with a 400,000-acre auction — the lowest acreage it could legally offer.”

The move is one of several the Biden administration is making to protect some of its achievements and prevent a rolling back of environmental protections. “Although President Joe Biden approved the major new Willow oil drilling project on Alaska’s North Slope, his administration has also put in protections for a vast amount of Alaskan wilderness trying to limit drilling in other regions,” Nilsen adds.

Some communities worry the restrictions will harm the state’s economy, which historically depends heavily on revenue from fossil fuel extraction.

• Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• Oil Drilling
• Fossil Fuels
• extraction

Foreboding clouds, snow-kissed countrysides, and clashes of seasons. The winners of this year’s Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year Competition showcase our planet’s volatile beauty.

Photographer Gerson Turelly took home the competition’s inaugural Standard Chartered Climate Award, which was implemented to document the connection between weather patterns and the broader implications of climate change. Turelly’s photograph (below) shows a kayaker navigating the streets of Porto Alegre, Brazil after destructive floods pummeled the area last spring.

The Royal Meteorological Society announced the winners, selected by a panel of experts from the fields of meteorology, photography and journalism. This year, the competition received entries from photographers in 84 countries.

“I’m delighted with the variety and quality of this year’s winning photographs which show a real window into the world’s weather and climate, in both its regional differences and its interconnectivity,” judge and Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society Liz Bentley said. “From African dust impacting on Athens to tranquil weather over volcanoes, from a sudden local downpour to increased intense rainfall and flooding around the world, we are reminded that climate change is impacting on weather patterns everywhere, and that the global community needs to come together to act now and curb any further temperature rise.”

The post 10 striking snapshots from the Weather Photographer of the Year awards appeared first on Popular Science.

• Lightguide bulbs - These would be perfect paired with a simple lamp base, because the bulb is meant to be the star. I have two of the ellipse bulbs, and they're enormous and look great.


• String lights - For holiday fans or those with patio setups crying out for lighting, the Hue Festavia String Lights would make a good gift.


• Signe floor lamp - The Signe floor lamp isn't the most practical light because it doesn't have a wide radius and is meant to face the wall, but it makes for great accent lighting.


• Hue Go - The Hue Go is a portable lamp that you can use plugged in or with the built-in battery, and it supports all of the same features as Hue bulbs. It's a nice accent light and good to have around for power outages.


• Hue Go Portable Table Lamp - This is a lot like the Hue Go, but it's a more traditional looking lamp. It's water resistant, so it can go outdoors, too.

Gamers, you’ve found the golden ticket. We’ve uncovered a hidden gem in the gaming world: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-month membership for less than Microsoft’s own price…28 percent less, to be exact. It doesn’t matter if you’re currently subscribed, either, both new and existing members can take advantage of this deal.

The only catch? Only 150 codes are available for $36.49 (reg. $50.97). So, head directly to checkout now to make sure you get yours. You can stack up to five for 15 months of play.

How many times have you wanted to try a new game but didn’t want to spend the money in case it wasn’t your vibe? With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can play them as much as you want during your membership before buying them outright. 

Here are some current titles you’ll probably want to play:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection
• Donut County
• Inscryption
• Mafia: Definitive Edition

When new games are released, you can pre-download and play them the same day they come out. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set to come out Dec. 9, and you can be one of the first to test it out.

Don’t miss out on essentially unlimited games—we might already be sold out of codes. Check out now. 

If not for the gaming library, you might just want to be able to play with your friends on Xbox consoles, PC, and the cloud. Well, go right ahead, gamer.

Still don’t have enough games? You’ll have EA Play membership to play franchises like The Sims, Madden, and Battlefield to quench the last of your thirst. 

Skip directly to checkout to get your 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership for $36.49 (reg. $50.97) while codes last. There are 150 available, and they’re going fast.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The post 500+ Xbox games for the price of a pizza? This Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal is insane appeared first on Popular Science.

• Friday 11/8: Doorbusters every Friday begins


• 11/8 through 11/20: Early Black Friday deals


• 11/21 through 11/30: Black Friday sale


• 12/1 through 12/2: Cyber Monday sale

• 9th Gen iPad - $199.99 ($130 off)


• 10th Gen iPad - $299.00 ($50 off)


• 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) - $499.00 ($100 off)


• 13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) - $699.00 ($100 off)

• M3, 8GB RAM, 512GB - $1,099.00, down from $1,599.00


• M3, 8GB RAM, 1TB - $1,299.00, down from $1,799.00


• M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB - $1,399.00, down from $1,999.00


• M3 Pro, 512GB - $1,599.00, down from $1,999.00


• M3 Pro, 1TB - $1,999.00, down from $2,399.00


• M3 Max, 1TB - $2,799.00, down from $3,199.00

• M3 Pro, 36GB RAM, 512GB - $2,299.00, down from $2,899.00


• M3 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB - $2,899.00, down from $3,499.00

• Beats Solo 4 - $99.99 ($100 off)


• Beats Studio Buds - $99.99 ($50 off)


• Jabra Elite 10 - $149.99 ($100 off)


• Beats Studio Pro - $169.99 ($180 off)


• Sony WH1000XM4 Noise-Cancelling Headphones - $229.99 ($120 off)


• Bose QuietComfort Ultra - $329.00 ($100 off)

• 43-inch Roku 4K Smart TV - $169.99 ($80 off)


• 50-inch Samsung Crystal UHD 4K TV - $249.99 ($50 off)


• 65-inch LG 4K Smart TV - $399.99 ($200 off)


• 75-inch Samsung Crystal UHD 4K TV - $549.00 ($200 off)


• 65-inch Samsung QLED 4K Smart TV - $799.99 ($200 off)


• 65-inch Sony Bravia LED 4K Smart TV - $999.99 ($200 off)


• 65-inch LG OLED 4K UHD Smart TV - $1,499.99 ($300 off)


• 65-inch Samsung The Frame 4K TV - $1,599.99 ($400 off)

After getting wet, many hairy mammals–particularly dogs–shake off the excess water from their fur. Scientists are now getting closer to understanding the neural mechanism behind the “wet dog shakes.” Using lab mice, a team of researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School found that the behavior is triggered when particular mechanoreceptors in the skin are activated. The findings are detailed in a study published November 7 in the journal Science.

The wet dog shakes are an effective way to remove water from fur and also potentially eliminate irritants, tangles, and parasites. It works particularly well in areas like the neck and back that are more difficult for animals to reach by licking or self-grooming. Hairy mammals have over 12 types of sensory neurons and each have their own function to find and interpret various feelings and trigger responses like shaking. Even though this behavior is fairly common across several species, the neural mechanisms behind it have been largely unexplored. 

[Related: New evidence suggests dogs may ‘picture’ objects in their minds, similarly to people.]

In the new study, the team focused on a type of ultra-sensitive touch detecting receptors called C-fibre low-threshold mechanoreceptors (C-LTMRs). These receptors work by wrapping around hair follicles and are associated with pleasant affective touch. 

First, the team applied multiple types of stimuli like oil and water to the mice’s backs and necks. After applying the stimuli, the team looked for a response from several mechanosensory neurons.

The team then genetically modified some of the mice by removing most of their C-LTMRs. Taking out these receptors stopped the mice from shaking, indicating that they are essential to controlling the sensation that is essential for triggering the wet dog shake.

Next, they explored how the signals from C-LTMRs travel through the mice’s nervous system. They traced this pathway to a group of neurons in the spinal cord. This neural pathway connects to the parabrachial nucleus–an area in the brain that helps process pain, touch, and temperature. The team then changed the neurons so that they can be switched on and off in response to light. It blocked the activity of the spinal neurons and allowed them to create a map of the path that the sensory neurons were taking. 

[Related: Dogs and wolves remember where you hide their food.]

Compared to the control mice, the altered mice had a 58 percent reduction in shakes. Blocking the activity to the brain’s pain, touch and temperature region also produced similar results. The control mice continued to scratch and groom themselves normally, which suggests that this is the neural circuit specific to wet dog shakes. 

According to the results, the C-LTMRs are the key sensory players behind the wet dog shakes.  Future research into this common behavior could investigate if overactive C-LTMRs add to conditions like twitch-skin syndrome in cats. This is when felines suddenly rip their skin and twitch excessively. It could also be used in studying skin hypersensitivity in humans.

The post Why wet dogs shake so much appeared first on Popular Science.