Groundhogs are Important to Science, But Not for Weather Forecasting

Coming up Sunday we have the only holiday dedicated to a rodent. Groundhog Day is actually about the weather, which we are more interested in than rodents this time of year, but in the United States, we have designated the groundhog as the animal most likely to forecast the weather for the rest of the winter.

The species Marmota monax goes by many names, but they are mostly called groundhogs these days, especially since that 1993 movie made the creature world famous. Groundhogs have been important in science, but not so much in meteorology. Groundhogs aren't all that great at weather forecasting. However, they have made a name in archaeology, since they are experts at digging, and in medical research, where they shine as research subjects. Savannah Geary of SciShow explains how valuable groundhogs really are. There's a 40-second ad at 3:33. The video actually ends at 8:32, but you'll be glad you continued watching after that. It will eventually make sense, except for that part where she takes a swig of what appears to be pickle juice.


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dimestorenovel-- how could we not send bacteria into space? They're all over us.

More importantly, don't let the mutated germs roam free when they get back from space, I think.
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Now this makes one question perhaps those bacteria and germs present in that comet that hit a few days ago may have been carrying a rather virulent bug? Maybe this is how we'll be wiped out? Not by war but rather by a super bug brought back by Astronauts.
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