In 1894, French physiologist Étienne-Jules Marey tried to resolve a particularly vexing question in science: How do cats always seem to land on their feet when they fall? Using the era’s rudimentary ...

Learn how variations in different parts of the spine allow cats to land upright.

Cats' gravity-defying pivots mid-fall just got a clear scientific explanation. Researchers at Japan's Yamaguchi University say the secret lies in a spine that doesn't bend the same way from front to ...

It seems like magic—but it’s pure biomechanics: A cat falls, spins quickly in the air, and lands safely on its paws. To us, it looks like a small miracle. For cats, it’s a vital survival reflex. This ...