October 18, 2021

What's Really Going On Here?

This horse might look like it’s ready for Halloween. But in reality, the spooky body paint it has on are for educational purposes. A horse’s skeleton has been painted onto its hair to help teach people like veterinarians about the animal’s anatomy. It can take up to four hours to paint this type of intricate design on a horse. Fortunately, most horses don’t mind and even find the brushstrokes relaxing.

Horses Inside Out

With a horse’s bones (and sometimes its muscles and organs) displayed on the outside, people can learn about the inner workings of the animal’s body structures in a new way. As the horse runs or jumps, viewers can get an idea of what’s going on under its skin. The painted horses help educate not only veterinarians, but also other professionals who work with horses, such as massage therapists. It’s their job to help ease racehorses’ sore muscles.

Horses Inside Out

ARTICLES
TEACHING RESOURCES

Biology Physics

The Curious Case of the Pink Squirrel

Lexile® measure:1050L, 800L

Biology Physics

Lexile® measure:1050L, 800L

Scientists discover mammals that glow in the dark.

Slideshows (1)

Glowing Animals

Check out some other critters that give off light.

Scientists have recently documented fluorescence—a phenomenon in which light is absorbed and then re-emitted in a different color—in more than 180 species of fish, including this young Atlantic blue tang. These species glow neon green, orange, or red in response to blue-green light, which is abundant in shallow seawater. (Water absorbs most other colors of visible light.) The purpose of the glow hasn’t been studied in many species, but in some cases it helps provide camouflage or attract mates.

Scorpions fluoresce a greenish blue in response to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, which is also reflected off the moon at night. Some scientists hypothesize that the glow helps a scorpion determine whether its body is exposed to either sunlight or moonlight—a clue that it may be time to find a protected hiding place.

STUART WILSON/SCIENCE SOURCE

Many parrot species, like these budgies, fluoresce under UV light. The glowing patterns seem to play a role in finding mates.

Albert Lleal/Minden Pictures

Fluorescence isn’t the only way animals can glow. Fireflies and many other species generate their own light using a chemical reaction. This type of glow is called bioluminescence. A light-producing organ in a firefly’s abdomen contains the chemicals luciferin and luciferase. They react with oxygen to produce light. The glow helps males and females locate one another so they can mate.

Phil Degginger/SCIENCE SOURCE

Two people in a cave looking at the glowing walls

At the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand, bioluminescent glow worms create a blue-green glow. Glow worms are the larval form of fungus gnats. These juveniles use the light show to lure their prey. Each larva dangles threads of sticky mucus. Bugs in the cave fly toward the light and get stuck. The larva then pulls up its meal and chows down.

iStockPhoto/Getty Images

Biology

The Source of Superstitions

Lexile® measure:890L, 730L

Biology

Lexile® measure:890L, 730L

Many people believe supernatural forces can influence their fate. Do you?

Engineering Biology

Bringing Nightmares to Light

Lexile® measure:1090L, 830L

Engineering Biology

Lexile® measure:1090L, 830L

Scientists explore bad dreams to help people get a more restful night's sleep.

Chemistry

Name That Element!

Lexile® measure:980L, 650L

Chemistry

Lexile® measure:980L, 650L

Which element helps scientists see distant planets, keeps armpits dry, and can be a real gem? Follow these five clues to find out. Then show what you know about the periodic table.