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The Question That Won Me the Ig Nobel Prize: Are Cats Liquid?
Real Clear Science ^ | November 10, 2017 | Marc-Antoine Fardin

Posted on 11/10/2017 5:33:20 AM PST by C19fan

A liquid is traditionally defined as a material that adapts its shape to fit a container. Yet under certain conditions, cats seem to fit this definition. This somewhat paradoxical observation emerged on the web a few years ago and joined the long list of internet memes involving our feline friends. When I first saw this question it made me laugh, and then think. I decided to reformulate it to illustrate some problems at the heart of rheology, the study of the deformations and flows of matter. My study on the rheology of cats won the 2017 Ig Nobel Prize in Physics.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearscience.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: cats
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Asking the important questions.
1 posted on 11/10/2017 5:33:20 AM PST by C19fan
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To: C19fan

As a beekeeper, I’m well aware that honeybees can be a “liquid”.

When installing bees, 3 pounds (10,000 +/-) are poured from their transporting box into the new hive.


2 posted on 11/10/2017 5:43:34 AM PST by C210N (It is easier to fool the people than convince them that they have been fooled)
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To: C19fan

They may not be liquid but our five are fun to watch. Their antics, exploration and hunting of vermin and snakes begin early in the morning. They are also expert at lounging.


3 posted on 11/10/2017 5:44:35 AM PST by Sequoyah101 (It feels like we have exchanged our dreams for survival. We just have a few days that don't suck.)
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To: C19fan

With the proper equipment, cats can be made liquid.


4 posted on 11/10/2017 5:46:03 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine (White is the new Black.)
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To: C19fan

I love the Ignobel prizes.

Cats do behave as liquids in many contexts. We had a cat that we named Oozy because she would ooze out of our arms whenever we would pick her up. She also had a remarkable property of molding herself to fit against any surface, which she demonstrated by sitting in my lap and plastering herself against me. She was definitely a viscous liquid.


5 posted on 11/10/2017 5:46:22 AM PST by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
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To: C19fan

I don’t think cats’ fur is attached to their bodies but rather a coat that they could slip out of if they had zippers on their backs.......


6 posted on 11/10/2017 5:50:36 AM PST by Hot Tabasco
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To: Sequoyah101

We have three and with our recent snow they are a bit less likely to go outside.

It appears you are a cat lover so check this out:

https://www.kedifilm.com

Just released on DVD, etc. today. It was at our inde theater one night and we were busy.

Looking forward to it!

Best!


7 posted on 11/10/2017 5:52:03 AM PST by BBB333 (The Power Of Trump Compels You!)
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To: Sequoyah101

Last night on my security guard rounds in a combination trailer park/condominium of small cottages and trailers, I encountered two mostly white neighborhood cats, not pets, who had a large rat between them. The rat wasn’t moving and one cat was prodding it . I stopped to watch. The rat looked frozen for a few minutes then darted away from the spot. I suspect the rat was already stunned because it was a slow dart. the cats stayed with it and herded it around the intersection. They played with the rat for several minutes more before the one who had not been prodding killed it.


8 posted on 11/10/2017 5:53:44 AM PST by arthurus
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To: C19fan

9 posted on 11/10/2017 5:55:24 AM PST by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: C19fan
Of course cats are liquid.

The experts at Bonsai Kitten proved this back around Y2K!

10 posted on 11/10/2017 5:57:20 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: C19fan
Mercury has a melting point of -38.9oC, a boiling point of 357.3oC, and is the only metal to remain in liquid form at room temperature. Droplets of liquid mercury are shiny and silver-white with a high surface tension, appearing rounded when on flat surfaces.

Ours are mercury.

11 posted on 11/10/2017 6:01:12 AM PST by mewzilla (Was Obama surveilling John Roberts? Might explain a lot.)
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To: C19fan

12 posted on 11/10/2017 6:10:53 AM PST by Oratam ("Let justice be done tho' the heavens fall.")
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To: BBB333
I remember Istanbul being overrun with cats. They were all over the campus where I taught. The students fed them. They even overran the compound around the church I attended. Muslims think dogs are dirty and have nothing to do with them. I guess they transfer to cats the affection Westerners have for dogs. I'm a cat person (one sitting on my lap now), so I appreciated the cat population of Istanbul.
13 posted on 11/10/2017 6:13:52 AM PST by JoeFromSidney
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To: BBB333
I remember Istanbul being overrun with cats. They were all over the campus where I taught. The students fed them. They even overran the compound around the church I attended. Muslims think dogs are dirty and have nothing to do with them. I guess they transfer to cats the affection Westerners have for dogs. I'm a cat person (one sitting on my lap now), so I appreciated the cat population of Istanbul.
14 posted on 11/10/2017 6:13:55 AM PST by JoeFromSidney
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To: C19fan

Not only liquid, but solar-powered... ours are often found recharging in the warmest sunny spot in the house.


15 posted on 11/10/2017 6:13:59 AM PST by niteowl77
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To: JoeFromSidney
Sorry about the double post.
16 posted on 11/10/2017 6:16:18 AM PST by JoeFromSidney
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To: JoeFromSidney
Sorry about the double post.
17 posted on 11/10/2017 6:16:19 AM PST by JoeFromSidney
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To: C19fan

“Please stop. I’m bored.”


18 posted on 11/10/2017 6:18:28 AM PST by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything)
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To: C19fan

Years ago I bought a golf driver made out of what was called, ‘liquid metal’.

Lived up to it’s name. Within 10 shots at the driving range, the head broke upon ball impact leaving a ball shaped hole in the face of the club.

I don’t believe they are still for sale.


19 posted on 11/10/2017 6:39:42 AM PST by bramps (It's the Islam, stupid!)
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To: C19fan

I’m not sure if Black Lab puppies are liquid, but they certainly do resemble pieces of boneless black India rubber with pink tongues and needle sharp white teeth.

There!! A dog person has just nailed all you cat people.


20 posted on 11/10/2017 6:42:32 AM PST by libstripper
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