Pictured above, the greatest feature of this world.
Posted on 03/13/2020 5:38:16 PM PDT by nickcarraway
It is well known that dogs boast an incredible sense of smell, but new research has uncovered another way our four-legged friends use their famous noses to find their way around. Scientists have discovered what they describe as an "entirely new sense" in dogs, observing how their wet nose tips can be used to sense heat from nearby objects, much like a thermal infrared sensor.
The research was carried out by scientists at Sweden's Lund University, along with a team from Hungary's Eötvös Loránd University, who conducted a pair of experiments that uncovered this surprising new canine skill.
The Lund University researchers set up a behavioral study whereby three dogs were presented with a pair of objects, one neutral object of roughly an ambient temperature and one with the surface temperature of a furry mammal. With training, the dogs were then able to distinguish between the two objects from a distance of 1.6 meters (5.2 ft), based purely on radiant heat.
The Eötvös Loránd University scientists, meanwhile, used magnetic resonance imaging to observe how different regions of the dogs' brains responded to heat stimuli, of roughly the same temperatures as the other experiment. The warmer objects induced a response in the left somatosensory association cortex, the part of the brain that processes sensory information, which the scientists concluded most likely came from the wet, furless skin around the nose known as the rhinarium.
Infrared image taken during the experiments Infrared image taken during the experiments Lund University “It has taken a rather long time to discover this, given that dog and man have lived side by side for 15,000 years, and we have remained unaware of this ability,” says Ronald Kröger, professor at Lund University.
The scientists believe there is an evolutionary lesson to be learned here, suggesting that predators like wolves are such effective hunters because they seem to be able to detect prey from a distance. Meanwhile, the creatures they hunt would benefit from some sort of camouflage, which could explain why some animals feature thick fur, for example. Furthermore, the findings could be useful in determining which dog breeds are most suitable for hunt and rescue operations following a natural disaster.
“The dog’s nose must be cold to be able to find a warm human body," says Kröger. "Our results indicate that you shouldn’t choose dogs that cannot cool their nose due to breeding. Also, training dogs could be more effective if heat was used in addition to smell."
DOGS are Man’s best......set of sensors...
That’s why they can detect cancers and other diseases.. I actually don’t like dogs very much, because their owners don’t train them so they jump up and I have been knocked down.
But dogs are working animals and the reason that they were domesticated is that they have a purpose and it comes from their unusual abilities to sense things. Horses are the same way, and cats - only marginally domesticated - also have that ability. So that’s why God gave us these three species to help us.
I just wish my shoe could detect their landmines.
They needed a study to find out what dog owners have known all along.
I miss my dog. Lost her yr and half ago. Can’t get another one because I don’t want to outlive her, living her alone.
Human faces are quite sensitive to IR but most people don’t notice it until they stand in front of a campfire.
Well, there are adoptions likwly available that might line up with your timeline.
"dogs domesticated humans"!
I decided to see if I could replicate their results.
I cooked a pepperoni pizza and put it on the floor next to a frozen pizza. I turned out the lights and opened the door and let in The Little Dog.
He decided the cooked pizza was too hot so he let it cool down while he crunched through the frozen pizza. After a few minutes, he also ate the cooked pizza.
My findings?
The Little Dog is a big pig.
Where’s my Nobel Prize?
I need the money to buy more pizza. That big pig ate all my pizza.
Pictured above, the greatest feature of this world.
The only thing "new" is the discovery.
The dogs have had it and scientists only claim it's a "new sense" simply because they've finally found out about it.
Supreme arrogance.
Lund University should study my cat's skinny butt, because it is always parked in the warmest spot in the house.
Same with cats. Cats are special in their own ways that any cat owner will be aware of. And some idiot that’s never been owned by one will conduct some dumbass study and publish a paper on what everyone else has known for centuries.
I don’t think it’s fair to call him a pig. If food hits the floor it’s fair game.
when my dog passed away I had to relearn that you have to pick up food when you drop it. Because while the dog was in charge it was never around long enough to pick up.
Months after a very bad bruise on my arm, s and with the scab having falling off, my cat sniffed it and made a face like he just smelled the most disgusting thing in the world.
It looked and smelled fine to me.
I wonder what was going on underneath the skin
There are dogs on death row. And I am sure the amount of love you can give him or her in the years that you are here would make the dog very happy.
You should hear what he calls me.
Yep.
Four-legged vacuum cleaners.
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