Cats Glow In The Dark

Here's your "nerd news" update: cats glow in the dark, cannibalism was more common than we thought and astronauts wear prada:

1.  In cat news:  A study found purring happens on auto-pilot.  Experts used to think a cat's brain had to constantly send signals to make them keep purring.  But the study found once they start, they just keep going until they decide to stop.

And a separate study found cats glow in the dark.  (???)  It found 125 different mammals with fluorescent properties that glow under U.V. lights.  Cats, zebras, armadillos, wombats, and polar bears all glow in the dark to some degree.

2.  In food news:  A study found cannibalism was a common ritual at funerals in Europe 15,000 years ago.  Early humans would eat their friends and relatives when they died.  But not because they needed to.  It was just part of their culture.

3.  In less-gross food news:  A study found being a vegetarian might be in your DNA.  Some of us are just genetically predisposed to find it easy and enjoyable.

4.  In space news:  The spacesuits astronauts wear on the next manned moon mission will be designed by . . . the luxury fashion brand Prada.

5.  In health news:  Scientists at Rice University are working on an implant that could deliver drugs and potentially cure cancer in as little as 60 days.

6.  In climate news:  Earth just had its hottest June, July, and August on record.  Now it looks like we also had the hottest September ever.  And 2023 is on track to be the hottest year we've ever seen.

7.  And finally:  The Nobel Prizes were announced this week.  The one for physics went to three experts who created a laser to study electrons.  The prize for medicine went to two people who helped develop mRNA vaccines.

The prize for chemistry went to three scientists for their work on something called "quantum dots."  And the prize for literature went to Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse.