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Byline: Peter Holley In their quest to develop functional - and sometimes terrifying - robots, Boston Dynamics has unleashed a veritable petting zoo of futuristic-looking machines. In recent years, the [...]

The article focuses on the impact of COVID-19 misinformation on animal medicine supply in the U.S. in 2021. Topics discussed include the misinformation on the efficacy of ivermectin in treating or preventing the coronavirus in social media, podcasts and talk radio, warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against taking ivermectin, and record increase in prescriptions for human formulations of the drug according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Discusses a Berkeley lab study on the motions of many-legged creatures. Interdisciplinary research at the Poly-PEDAL Laboratory at The University of California; Performance, energetics, and dynamics of animal locomotion (PEDAL); Background on Mr. Full and his use of a complete computer model.

The article focuses on the study conducted by University of California's Robert J. Full laboratory graduates Jasmine A. Nirody and Judy Jinn which reveals that Asian house geckos have the ability to run on water.

The article reports that a new research at University of Bristol in Britain has suggested fruit fly fat cells have greater mobility, and are more helpful in an emergency than previous belief that fat cells lead sedentary lives, unable to move themselves around the body.

The article focuses on findings of a research on agility of cockroaches, conducted by biologist Kaushik Jayaram, at Harvard University, and mentions that American cockroaches can run full speed into walls because their exoskeletons allow them to recover quickly.

The article reports on a study of the locomotion of snakes that involves moving in a straight line, with no bending.

The article reports on the service of dog runners. Some dog owners discover that walking their dog twice a day is not enough and need to hire a dog runner. The service is becoming more common especially in urban areas. Veterinarians advise dog owners to have their pets evaluated to determine optimal running duration, speed and frequency.

A snake's slithering -- how it translates wiggling motion into forward movement -- has always been a bit of a mystery. Over the years, researchers developed the idea that an undulating snake drove its flanks laterally against small objects, like rocks and twigs, to propel itself. ''But that didn't explain how snakes can move in areas where there isn't anything to push on,'' said David L. Hu, of Georgia Institute of Technology and New York University. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sticking the landing may be hard for gymnasts, but at least they finish right-side up and have gravity on their side. Consider what bats have to do: because they roost by hanging from their heels, they must land upside down against a cave ceiling or foliage. And on their approach they fly upward, against gravity. Daniel K. Riskin of Brown University and colleagues have now shown how bats do it. They perform a flip and in some cases a twist, and make a two- or four-point landing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The way four-legged animals walk has been well known since the 1880s, when Eadweard Muybridge's motion-capture photographs revealed the sequence of leg movements. They walk this way: the left hind leg moves forward, followed by the left foreleg, right hind leg and right foreleg, in order. You'd think that since this knowledge has been around for a century or so, artists, taxidermists, toy designers and others responsible for depicting animals would get it right. But a study by Gabor Horvath of Eotvos University in Hungary and colleagues shows that this is often not the case. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents the author's opinions on jogging with a canine running mate. Arguments are presented which suggest that dogs make good running mates because they do not criticize runners for a lack of speed, and are not competitive. A discussion of the positive effect running or exercise can have on a dog's health and behavior is presented. The positive health benefits of pet ownership including a decrease in blood pressure and improved mood are discussed.

Several diagrams illustrating the locomotion of bats are presented.

The article reports on a study published in "Science" which concludes that the Saharan desert ant (Cataglyphis fortis) uses a built-in pedometer to measure distances traveled. The researchers, led by Harald Wolf, altered the length of the ants legs by snipping or artificially elongating to determine the effects on the their walking behavior.

Reports on the people protest of the changes to the dog run with regards to the plan to renovate the Washington Square Park in New York. Features of the plan; Concern of the dog owners; Assurance of the park's designers to the people.

Mentions how scientists in England have studied the body of the racehorse Eclipse, one of the most successful thoroughbreds in history. Development of mathematical models of horse movement by the scientists after taking precise measurements of Eclipse's bones at the Royal Veterinary College; Research by Dr. James Rooney on equine biomechanics and how a horse's attitude plays a major part in how fast a horse can run and performance; Comparison of the length, shape, and arrangement of bones from a variety of famous racehorses; Efforts of scientists at the Structure and Motion Laboratory to study the gaits of creatures other than horses such as camels and ostriches.

Provides tips to ensure a happy walking activity with a pet dog. Care in planning a long or strenuous walk; Provision of a drink for the dog during or immediately after the walk; Vigilance in busy places.

Characterizes the peacock mantis shrimp. Size; Armlike appendages; Movement; Energy release; Muscle movements; Saddlelike structure; Stomatopod.

The article discusses a study by Andrew A. Biewener which suggested that straighter limbs, not larger or stronger bones, make its possible for large animals to move without collapsing from their own weight. He found that large animals are able to reduce the stress on their bones and muscles by keeping the posture of their limbs straighter when they run. The smaller animals ran in more crouched posture than the larger ones.