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Imagine you have just observed something that is going to revolutionize science. The first thing you’d do is probably check everything multiple times – is this correct? Is it really happening? And if you were in a big international collaboration‚ you might even want to ask around to check if this is a prank or a test. Or maybe‚ you might consider something more sinister: someone has created a fake.This is not a hypothetical‚ but what actually happened during the weeks following the momentous first observation of gravitational waves. Let’s go back to September 14‚ 2015. On that day‚ the two LIGOs (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory)‚ one in Hanford‚ Washington‚ and the other in Livingston‚ Louisiana‚ detected for the first time vibrations in space-time.A LIGO is made of two arms 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long. A laser is split and shot through the arms. It bounces off mirrors at the end of each arm and comes back to its origin. If the length is indeed the same‚ as it comes back the laser beam is designed to cancel out. But if space-time is disturbed by waves‚ you’ll see something. And that is what happened. A signal was seen across both instruments.      “Like many others‚ I simply didn't believe it. The reason is that many of us thought it was a test: an ‘injection.’ We used to do many tests where we inject fake signals into the data of our detector‚” Professor Pia Astone‚ from La Sapienza University‚ told IFLScience during our interview for CURIOUS Live. “And then in the end‚ we had a meeting and the spokesperson of the collaboration said‚ no‚ this is not a test.”The data suggested a collision between black holes of similar masses‚ one weighing 36 times the mass of the Sun and the other 29. And the signal looked very good. This was one for the history books‚ but as the excitement increased so did the concern. Could the signal have been faked?“The second step was even more complicated. We thought: ‘Okay‚ but is it possible that someone cheated? In the sense that they introduced the signals having in mind to do something bad‚” Professor Astone explained. “And so we got together a group of people. They were charged to really try to see whether it was possible to enter the labs and inject a signal without leaving any clue. After one week‚ they gave us a report and the conclusion was: ‘Okay guys it is very difficult‚ but not impossible.’”      But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence‚ and the fact that we had truly detected a collision between black holes had all the proof needed. The remote possibility of sabotage was merely a "not impossible". The focus shifted from a "What if?" to an "Oh wow!"“I started to realize this is something fantastic and I am in it. I remember that the period from October 2015 up to February 2016 - when we gave the press conference - was probably the most intense‚ difficult‚ but also full of emotions of my entire working activities‚” Professor Astone told IFLScience. “We knew that we were writing a paper that would make history!”And make history they did. Gravitational waves have been observed time and time again following that first detection and a new era of astronomy began that day – with a little dash of drama behind the scenes.

Wasps‚ let's face facts here‚ are not everybody's favorite insect. Despite playing important roles in pollination and regulating plant pests‚ they still lose out heavily in the PR war to their old rivals the bee.In fact‚ one attitude survey in 2018 found that wasps were "universally disliked by the public"‚ which is unfair on an insect that also regulates other insects known to carry human diseases. The negative attitude towards wasps‚ which pollinate crops as they search for nectar just like bees do although not to the same extent‚ likely comes from encounters with yellowjacket wasps. These are the classic yellow and black-striped social wasps‚ which can become aggressive and sting people‚ particularly as their food supply becomes scarce.Though these are the wasps humans are most likely to encounter‚ they make up less than 1 percent of stinging wasps. There are approximately 100‚000 species of wasps in the world‚ most of them not ruining your picnic.One species of wasp will actually enhance your picnic‚ given that it produces honey.         Despite bees getting all the glory‚ honey production does not stop at bees. Honeypot ants have their own particularly strange way of storing this "honey"‚ inside the abdomens of their comrades.  Though some wasps will produce a small amount of honey in their nest‚ Mexican honey wasps (Brachygastra mellifica) are one of the only wasps that make honey on a large scale like bees‚ producing it in huge honeycombs by regurgitating nectar into their nest.The wasps‚ smaller than a honey bee and black in color‚ get pollen stuck to their hairy bodies‚ and pollinate crops as they go. These wasps were likely among the first pollinators of avocados in Central America‚ before the arrival of the honeybee.What is surprising about the wasp‚ is that they bear little relation to bees."They're really interesting because they're really distant relatives of the honey bee‚" Dr Elli Leadbeater from the Institute of Zoology and Zoological Society of London explained in a YouTube video‚ "and so genetically they're very different but they do exactly the same behavior. We want to know if it's the same genes that control the behavior in both species."The wasps make less honey than bees‚ but it is just as edible to humans. Its flavor is described as like maple syrup. Samples of the honey have found it contained sunflower‚ mesquite‚ and honeydew.

The world has changed significantly since the HIV epidemic began. The development of new drugs has allowed people living with the virus to have a healthy life‚ and even to not pass on the infection. But for this disease to be removed from the list of the main public health threats‚ what is needed is a vaccine.Together with tuberculosis‚ HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus) is a leading infectious global health threat. In 2022‚ there were 1.3 million new infections and about 630‚000 people died from HIV-related causes. National and international organizations have set out a goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. Having a vaccine is believed to be a very important tool to make that a reality.The quest to develop an HIV vaccineThe quest for a vaccine has been arduous. The virus is an adaptable adversary and the various approaches that have been experimented with over the years have so far not shown significant protection in clinical trials.“HIV is an incredibly successful virus when it comes to evading the human immune system. It rapidly hides inside cells‚ it integrates into the DNA‚ kills immune cells‚ and has a protective glycan shield on its envelope protein that masks antigen targets from immune effectors‚” Dr Johan Vekemans‚ the senior science and clinical advisor and HIV vaccine development lead for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)‚ told IFLScience.“It is a master at inducing immune responses and antibodies that are not neutralizing and not protective. These are among the major scientific challenges‚ but probably the leading challenge relates to the very‚ very high diversity that the HIV vaccine envelope protein displays. Just within an infected host‚ there can be a very‚ very important diversity expressed in the pool of infecting viruses.”So HIV can hide and can destroy the immune system. If an immune response is produced‚ it is ineffective. And the variety of virus strains‚ even within a single individual‚ made traditional approaches ineffective. These properties make it a challenge to eradicate the virus once it has infected an individual and to prevent the infection‚ so no cure or preventative vaccine has been successfully developed yet.The latest researchFailure to develop a successful candidate is certainly disappointing‚ but researchers have not given up. Each unsuccessful trial provides new clues and understanding about this virus and hopefully how to fight it for good. The ideal vaccine would activate an immune response that produces broadly neutralizing antibodies that kill the diversity of viruses and prevent them from infecting cells; the vaccine-induced activation of protective T-cells would add another arm of the immune response that can seek out and kill infected cells‚ which would potentially progress prospects for developing a cure.“We're switching from an approach that has traditionally been quite empiric in vaccine development to an approach that aims to be more deductive and evidence-based. That is the case for the target generation of neutralizing antibodies‚ as well as the target generation of protective T-cell responses. It's important to understand that we're learning from nature‚” Vekemans told IFLScience. It is the study of HIV patients with chronic infections that‚ for example‚ led to insights into broadly neutralizing antibodies. The ability to induce such an immune response is seen as an important avenue in creating a preventative vaccine. There have been some successful steps forward in this direction. A vaccine candidate was able to develop the precursors to broadly neutralizing antibodies in a Phase I clinical trial.Two vaccine clinical trials are now attempting to further guide the immune response along‚ one being conducted in the US and another one being conducted in Africa‚ by African scientists. In these studies‚ the engineered immunogens that trigger the response are delivered by mRNA technology.“There is also active research in the curative field. And it may be useful to highlight that there might be cross-learnings in these two fields. We might understand better how to prevent and how to get rid of the virus through curative approaches by combining tools‚” Vekemans continued.A Phase I clinical trial for a T-cell vaccine design was concluded last July with results expected to be published soon. Other approaches are being investigated in preclinical trials and are being informed by the knowledge accumulated over decades‚ as well as new technology including machine learning algorithms.“The key lesson is the fact that we shouldn't be shooting in the dark. And it's really important to understand and master the protective immune response and use an approach that focuses on generating the rightly characterized protective immune response‚” Vekemans explained to IFLScience.What's the outlook for tackling HIV?While a vaccine is not here yet‚ we are not defenseless against the virus. Education and prevention are very important. Drugs such as PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) can prevent infections and there are new versions that could be longer lasting and even easier to administer‚ such as the injectable form.For people living with HIV too‚ despite the lack of a cure‚ there have been huge steps forward. New antiretroviral drugs allow for completely healthy lives. Beyond that‚ it has been shown that once the viral load becomes undetectable it is impossible for them to pass the virus on. This remarkable achievement is encapsulated by the phrase undetectable equals untransmittable‚ or U=U.Despite the progress‚ however‚ people living with HIV continue to experience stigma and discrimination due to political‚ religious‚ and socioeconomic conditions. This contributes to those most at risk not being able to access lifesaving drugs and crucial information about the disease.

Record efficiency in CIGS solar cells has been independently verified‚ showing there is still life in the once-popular technology that has been shaded in recent years. Today‚ the vast majority of photovoltaic systems are silicon-based. However‚ silicon cells are approaching their maximum efficiency‚ and require relatively high temperatures to produce‚ creating a floor in cost and embedded energy that is hard to get below. The much newer perovskite technology is improving at an astonishing rate‚ but doubts remain about perovskite cells’ longevity.Consequently‚ some researchers are keen to keep options open for an alternative approach. Moreover‚ stacking different types of solar cells on each other leads to efficiencies none could achieve on their own. Both of these keep CIGS relevant as a potential part of fossil fuels’ replacement‚ despite its decline in market share since the early 2000s.The letters in CIGS stand for copper‚ indium‚ gallium‚ and selenide‚ a combination of which are coated on an ordinary sheet of window glass‚ along with silver and sodium. A team at Uppsala University created one such cell that outperformed predecessors using several innovations‚ including adjusting gallium concentrations in different parts of the cell.This composition sounds expensive – some of those metals are quite pricey. The fact they need to be treated with rubidium fluoride‚ a molybdenum layer placed behind them‚ and a transparent layer placed in front‚ doesn’t improve the situation.However‚ these types of cells are not called “thin film” for nothing. The sheets are so fine that the quantities of metals required should not be prohibitive compared to silicon.If CIGS is to be worth using‚ however‚ it needs efficiency at least close to competing technologies. For decades‚ solar engineers were more concerned about getting production costs down than improving efficiency‚ but solar cells are now so cheap that efficiency gains have been prioritized in recent years. Standard commercial panel efficiencies have more than doubled over a decade‚ allowing far more energy to be generated from rooftops with limited space‚ as well as easing concerns that utility solar will compete with agriculture for land. Uppsala University researchers held the record for CIGS efficiency in the 1990s‚ but that feat had been exceeded for decades. Recently‚ however‚ they produced a cell that their own tests suggested was closing in on 24 percent efficiency. Independent testing by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems has now produced a value of 23.54 percent. “The measurements that we have made ourselves for this solar cell and other solar cells produced recently are within the margin of error for the independent measurement‚” Uppsala University's Professor Marika Edoff said in a statement. This reclaims the CIGS crown‚ beating the previous record set by Solar Frontier of Japan by 0.29 percent‚ although still behind silicon’s 27.6 percent and perovskite’s 26.1.However‚ CIGS doesn’t need to beat silicon’s efficiency to matter. Different cell technologies work best at capturing different parts of the spectrum of sunlight that reaches Earth. Tandem cells are topped by a layer that is good at capturing blue to ultraviolet‚ and relatively transparent to longer wavelengths‚ with another layer more suited to capturing red light below. These can be more efficient than any single-layer cell – with a record currently standing at 33.9 percent.“Our study demonstrates that CIGS thin-film technology is a competitive alternative as a stand-alone solar cell. The technology also has properties that can function in other contexts‚ such as the bottom cell of a tandem solar cell‚” said Edoff. CIGS’s high reliability also gives it an advantage over some other candidates.Inevitably‚ tandem cells are more expensive per unit area‚ and currently per unit of energy as well. Consequently‚ they are only used in cases where efficiency is much more important than cost‚ such as powering satellites. However‚ if improvements continue across multiple technologies‚ tandem‚ or even triple or quadruple cells‚ could become much more widespread. The study is published in Nature Energy.

Some people really need their “parenting” style reported to CPS. Today’s example of that comes from a mother who posted a video online complaining that she had to stop streaming on her OnlyFans account in order to pick up her sick son from school. She was pissed that her sex work had to be interrupted to tend to her son’s needs. Talk about bad parenting! If you aren’t aware‚ OnlyFans is an internet content subscription service that’s primarily used by sex workers. Though it was created in 2016‚ it’s become more popular in the recent years. Essentially‚ users pay for content (photos‚ videos and live streams) via a monthly subscription. While some of the top creators use it as their main source of income‚ others use it to supplement theirs.  The mother in the video was irate that she had to help her son and stop her session. The video‚ which was posted by Dr. Jebra Faushay‚ an account that pokes fun at insane leftism‚ now has almost eight million views in just over 12 hours. After growling to the camera the mother said‚ “I am so pissy today” before explaining that 11 a.m. is prime posting time and she had to go get her sick ten-year-old from school. “I’m cranky because my child — my child is ten‚ I had to come up to the school‚ I had to pick him up‚ why? Why I had to f**kin pick this kid up? I had to pick this kid up because he’s a man. He’s a little man and he’s got a weak a** stomach like f**king most men do‚” she said with clear frustration.  Her son threw up in the library after another child tooted next to him. This OnlyFans model was outraged because the school called her to pick up her son who had thrown up. This ruined her plans. And she’s going to sit in the car and rant about it. pic.twitter.com/BuZW97yv3i — Dr. Jebra Faushay (@JebraFaushay) February 28‚ 2024 “So I have to interrupt my day because some kid’s got a rank a**hole? That’s a new kind of [c**k] block‚” she insisted. Uh‚ ma'am‚ when you have kids‚ everything is interrupted if they need something. That’s how parenting works. Your needs are to be denied to help your child. End of story. At the end of the video‚ after complaining even more‚ she said‚ “I’m gonna Kool Aid man through the side of a wall today‚ that’s what I’m gonna do‚ yup. I’m gonna do it because I’m pint up and I’ve got a lot of aggression.” Honestly‚ I feel awful for the child whose mother posted the video. She cares so much more about herself and her virtual sex work than about him. Others noticed that too when they replied to the video on X. “Poor kid. Hope Dad’s working towards full custody‚” one user wrote. “I’m honestly scared for her son. I feel like that kid does not have a loving home‚” another added while one more wrote “It’s sad to see her bash her own son. Some people are not meant to be parents.” I really hope her son never sees this video.  

Dogs are a man’s best friend‚ but who is your dog’s best friend? Understanding how your dog’s brain works is one of the more challenging parts of being a dog owner. Some people say that dogs form meaningful connections‚ while others say that anything resembling an emotional bond is only an illusion. But who is right? In this article‚ we will dive into the truth of whether dogs can have best friends. We will also examine how dogs connect with fellow dogs‚ humans‚ and other animals. Do Dogs Have Best Friends? Dogs are known to be friendly animals‚ but can they form friendships? Yes‚ they can! Canines are social animals. This can be observed in domesticated dogs and wild dogs; they prefer to stay in groups rather than spend their days in isolation. Their desire for community leads them to form connections with those in their social sphere‚ forming what we humans would refer to as friendships. Among these friendships‚ dogs have been observed developing preferred companions‚ otherwise known as best friends. Dogs often gravitate toward others with similar playstyles‚ as their chemistry makes them compatible. Having a best friend helps to reduce their stress‚ as they feel more comfortable and safe when in the presence of their best friend. Determining whether your dog has a best friend isn’t too difficult. Next time you’re at the dog park‚ observe where your dog naturally gravitates. Do they hang around a specific dog or group of dogs? Are they willing to share their toys‚ water bowl‚ and personal space with these dogs? Occasionally‚ your dog may even be willing to share their favorite treats and toys with a particular dog. These are all indications that your dog has formed a strong bond with their playmates. Image Credit: anetapics‚ Shutterstock Do Dogs Form Friendships With Their Owners? Dogs have been an integral part of human life for thousands of years‚ starting when our ancestors began domesticating them. Through careful‚ deliberate breeding‚ the sociability of the canine was improved and expanded upon. As a result‚ dogs can form social bonds with species that are not their own. That includes humans. Just like your dog can form connections with other canines‚ they can also attach themselves to you. Dogs that have formed connections with their family members may follow family rules‚ participate in activities‚ and regulate their emotions to match their family’s. The strength of these connections is evidenced by dogs who experience separation anxiety. If dogs felt no connection to their owners‚ they wouldn’t experience separation anxiety when their humans weren’t around. Do Dogs Form Friendships With Other Animals? Dogs form friendships with fellow canines‚ and dogs form friendships with humans‚ but can they connect with other animals? The answer is yes; dogs can form meaningful relationships with other animals. This is typically seen in cats‚ and they have also been domesticated for a prolonged period and have developed the capability to form social bonds outside their species. While cats and dogs are portrayed as natural enemies‚ it is not an inevitable fact of life. As long as your cat and dog are introduced properly and given adequate time to adjust to each other’s presence‚ they can form a deep emotional connection with each other. Dogs can also form connections with other animals‚ such as rabbits or guinea pigs. However‚ allowing a dog and a small mammal to occupy the same space can be dangerous‚ and many dogs have a natural prey drive that compels them to see tiny creatures as food. If you keep small animals and a dog in the same house‚ supervise their interactions to ensure no irreversible mistakes are made. Image Credit: SUWAPARN JARUCHAISITTIKUL‚Shutterstock How to Tell if Your Dog Needs a Friend Dogs are social creatures. They aren’t just capable of forming connections‚ but they also need friendships to thrive. Friendships are good for your dog’s mental health and should be cultivated whenever possible. Without adequate socialization‚ your dog will grow lonely. If your dog is the only pet in the house‚ that doesn’t necessarily mean they are lonely. Dogs can form deep bonds with humans and receive plenty of social interaction. In fact‚ there is a very good chance that you are your dog’s best friend. Still‚ many dogs can become lonely if their favorite humans are out of the house for a long time. Many dog owners decide that the natural conclusion is to get another dog to keep their pet company; however‚ this isn’t always the right move. How can you decide if it is a good fit for you? Consider Your Dog’s Temperament Even though dogs can form connections with other dogs‚ not all want to live with their fellow canines. If your dog is the type who needs space from other dogs after a trip to the dog park‚ you’ll want to consider the possibility that bringing another dog into your pet’s space will overwhelm them. Even more‚ if your dog becomes aggressive‚ anxious‚ or unfriendly around other dogs‚ bringing a new puppy into the home is surely a recipe for disaster. As fun as it may be to have multiple dogs‚ it is essential to recognize that this lifestyle isn’t suitable for every canine. Image Credit: Pixel-Shot‚ Shutterstock Think About Your Dog’s Behavior Regarding Their Possessions Dogs can be possessive of their food‚ water‚ toys‚ beds‚ and other valuable items. If your dog is unwilling to share their objects or space at the dog park‚ they aren’t likely to want to share with a new furry roommate. Observe Your Dog’s Behavior After a Play Date If your dog is the type to love being around other dogs‚ monitor their behavior after they finish playing. If they seem depressed or unhappy after leaving their doggy friends behind‚ that indicates that they could benefit from more company. On the other hand‚ if your dog seems content and unbothered by their departure‚ they probably aren’t too lonely at home. Final Thoughts Dogs can form meaningful friendships with fellow dogs‚ human owners‚ and other animals. Many dog owners consider their pets their best friends‚ and it is likely that their dogs feel the same about them. A dog’s friendly demeanor and eagerness to socialize make them an excellent companion. Who wouldn’t want such a loveable creature for a best friend? Sources https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/can-dogs-have-best-friends https://today.tamu.edu/2023/08/25/how-did-dogs-become-our-best-friends/ https://www.petmd.com/news/view/can-dogs-have-dog-best-friends-37116 https://www.ovrs.com/blog/does-my-dog-need-a-friend/ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/is-the-dog-human-bond-unique/ https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/separation-anxiety-in-dogs https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/how-introduce-dog-and-cat Featured Image Credit: otsphoto‚ Shutterstock The post Do Dogs Have Best Friends? Canine Behavior Explained appeared first on Pet Keen.

If you’ve spotted a cat with a distinctive trait before‚ you might have wondered how many other breeds share it. Folded ears are one of the most recognizable unusual traits found in modern cat breeds‚ and celebrity endorsements of some folded-ear breeds have made them more popular still. Despite the popularity of folded ears‚ only five breeds feature them! Despite how they look‚ folded ears can come with several problems. In this article‚ we’ll take a closer look at the five breeds with folded ears and discover what it means for the health of the cats. The 5 Cat Breeds With Folded Ears 1. Scottish Fold Image Credit: nat Hongkham‚ Shutterstock Average Weight: Up to 13lbs Lifespan: 11-15 years Scottish Folds are among some of the most recognizable breeds in the world thanks to their signature ear folds‚ rounded faces‚ and huge eyes. The Scottish Fold originated in Scotland in 1961 when a barn cat named Susie gave birth to a litter of kittens who developed the same folded ears as their mother. Celebrities have fallen head over heels for these owl-like cats‚ with stars like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran owning one (if not more!). Scottish Folds come in many colors and patterns‚ including blue‚ gray‚ lilac‚ and tortoiseshell. 2. Scottish Kilt (Scottish Fold Munchkin Cat) Image Credit: Kellee Kovalsky‚ Shutterstock Average Weight: 4–9lbs Lifespan: 11-15 years The Scottish Kilt is a relatively new crossbreed created by merging two distinctive breeds of cat: the Scottish Fold and the Munchkin. Munchkin cats are known for their short‚ bent legs; the stocky limbs give the cat a “sausage-dog” appearance. The Scottish Kilt combines the folded ears of the Scottish Fold with the shortened legs of the Munchkin to create a unique feline. However‚ because the two traits involve mutations to the bone and cartilage‚ the Scottish Kilt often suffers from debilitating and painful musculoskeletal conditions. 3. Longhaired Scottish Fold Image Credit: The Len‚ Shutterstock.jpg Average Weight: Up to 13lbs Lifespan: 11-15 years The Longhaired Scottish Fold is classed as a separate breed of the Scottish Fold‚ despite being the same except for their long hair! Longhaired Scottish Folds have fluffy furnishings and bushy tails. These beautiful cats were created when the gene for long hair was expressed in a litter of short-haired Scottish Fold kittens‚ resulting in the semi-longhair variant. The Longhaired Scottish Fold shares all the temperament traits as their short-haired siblings do‚ but they have fluffy ruffs around their necks and silky britches adorning their hind legs‚ making them a highly desirable breed! 4. Foldex Image Credit: Tossatis chongjiragal‚ Shutterstock Average Weight: 6–14lbs Lifespan: 12–15 years The Foldex is a new breed of folded-ear cat developed in 1993. As a cross between the flat-muzzled Persian and the folded-eared Scottish Fold‚ Foldex cats were bred to look as much like teddy bears as possible! Betty-Ann Yaxley first presented the breed in a Canadian cat show and gained so much attention that the Canadian Cat Association accepted the breed into its ranks. They were accepted in the experimental class of breeds in November 1998 and as a new breed in 2006. The Foldex quickly gained popularity as a pretty cat with a muzzle that’s not too short. 5.  Ukrainian Levkoy   Ukranian Levkoy (Image Credit: Nickolas Titkov‚ Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0 Generic) Average Weight: 8–12lbs Lifespan: 12–15 years The distinctive Ukrainian Levkoy is a hairless cat created in the 2000s by Elena Biriukova of Ukraine by breeding the hairless Donskoy with the folded-eared Scottish Fold. These beautiful cats are normally only covered in a very short‚ downy “peach fuzz” that shows off their wrinkled bodies and long faces‚ though some can be born with longer fur. They share the same folded ears as the Scottish Fold‚ but that‚ unfortunately‚ means that the Ukrainian Levkoy often suffers from debilitating health problems. What Causes Folded Ears in Cats? The folded ears are caused by a genetic mutation. This mutation affects the bone and cartilage around the body‚ including the cartilage forming the ear pinna (the outer ear that’s visible in cats). This causes the characteristic crumpling and folding of the outer ears‚ resulting in the rounded look people seem to adore. The gene in question is known as the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid family member 4 gene (TRPV4)‚ which causes the folded ears and a whole host of other health problems‚ too. Do Cats With Folded Ears Have Health Problems? Unfortunately‚ all cats with folded ears will suffer from a disease known as osteochondrodysplasia (also commonly known as Scottish Fold Disease) to varying degrees. Osteochondrodysplasia is a condition caused by a change in the TRPV4 gene‚ which causes the malformation and degradation of the cartilage throughout the body. This results in arthritis‚ pain‚ and a diminished quality of life for severely affected felines. It’s sad that all cats‚ no matter the breed or pedigree‚ will suffer from this debilitating condition if they have folded ears. This condition can hinder mobility and cause daily (sometimes severe) pain. For this reason‚ many veterinary and animal welfare organizations disagree with breeding cats with folded ears. Image Credit: Standret‚ Shutterstock Are All Folded Ears the Same? Folded ears in cats are not all the same! There are varying degrees of folding‚ ranging from just a tiny amount to the entire ear almost flattened to the head. This can be seen most readily in Scottish Folds‚ as the breed standards of many feline fancying groups call for ears folded down tight to the head “like a cap.” Kittens born to these breeds don’t have their ears folded at birth‚ either! The folding occurs naturally over 5 weeks‚ and not all kittens born to a litter with folded ear parents will have folded ears themselves. Conclusion Cats with folded ears are some of the most recognizable breeds due to their sweet looks and resulting popularity. The five breeds we mentioned are bred to have folded ears. However‚ ear folding is caused by a genetic mutation‚ and any breed of cat can be born with folded ears in theory. Despite their cute looks‚ folded ears present a host of other health conditions‚ including osteochondrodysplasia‚ which causes the folding of the ear pinna in the first place. Sources Pet MD I Cat Care TICA TICA CCA AFC Highland Titles Featured Image Credit: dien‚ Shutterstock The post 5 Cat Breeds With Folded Ears (With Pictures) appeared first on Pet Keen.