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SmarterEveryDay explains it better than I ever could.
Here is an AI-generated summary of this video for the people who don't want to go to YouTube with an added ELI5:
In this video, the host, Destin, explores why cats always land on their feet, a phenomenon known as the 'cat righting reflex'. He uses a cat named Gigi as an example and employs a high-speed camera to analyze the process.
Destin explains that when a cat falls, the first thing it does is try to figure out which way is up. It does this using the balance organ in its ear or its eyes. Then, the cat divides its body into two separate rotation axes that are tilted from each other. It pulls in its front paws, decreasing its moment of inertia at the front so it can spin quickly. At the same time, it extends its back legs, increasing its moment of inertia at the back, resulting in a smaller twist in the opposite direction. In this way, the cat compensates for the rotation and lands safely on its feet.
Destin emphasizes that cats have very flexible spines and no functioning collarbones, which contributes to their ability to perform this complex movement. He also notes that this phenomenon has baffled scientists and engineers for centuries and is studied in various fields, including physics, robotics, space satellite control, weapons development, and biomedical engineering.
The video ends with Destin playfully chasing Gigi and thanking the viewers for their attention. He encourages viewers to check out other cat videos and subscribe to his channel, Smarter Every Day.
ELI5 (Explain Like I'm 5): Imagine you're a cat and you're falling. You quickly figure out which way is up and down. Then, you do a clever trick. You pull your front legs close to your body and push your back legs away. This makes your front body spin fast and your back body spin slow, but in the opposite direction. It's like when you see ice-skaters spin really fast when they pull their arms in. Once you've twisted enough to face downwards, you just stretch out all your legs and get ready to land on your feet. It's a cool trick that cats can do thanks to their super flexible bodies!
God they're so talented 🥲 I love cats