Long ago, a monster in the dark became humanities greatest friend.

How and when that happened is up for debate by science.

Let’s look at one story today on The Super Pawesome Science Thread. ❤️
#TSPST This is a closeup of a golden retrievers face.  The nose is
Archeologists in Finland proposed one theory about how the wolf began to turn into the dog.
To understand, we need to travel back in time.
Back to a time when the ice froze the world. A dog standing in front of a mountain covering snow
The ice age 29,000 to 14,000 years ago was a harsh time for everyone. Great ice sheets stretched from Canada to California. England was frozen over in a cruel tundra. Early humans had a rough time staying alive, but so did the game the humans hunted. Paws in the snow of a Bernese Mountain Dog.
Early deer, caribou, and other game had little fat on their bodies during this time. If a human hunter nabbed dinner, it would be wicked high in protein.
That’s great for a short time, BUT, a diet super high in only protein is dangerous. A dog looking out over a frozen landscape.  There are majest
Today we know that the human liver can only metabolize so much protein before it says nay-nay. Carbs would have run out for these humans and they would have focused on what fats they could get from their prey, leaving much meat untouched. A golden retriever covered in snow
The humans ate what they could but realized by random experimentation that too much lean meat sickened them.
Where would a human throw the leftover meat if it couldn’t be carried?
Likely, behind them in their treks through the tundra. A Berner biting a giant piece of wood covered in snow
This is it. This is the start of everything, if this theory holds true.
Wolves that hunted the humans found that the humans LEFT food for them.
Over a couple wolf generations, the offspring grew to trust the humans.
Fast forward a hundred years. Three photos of a Berner in the snow
The wolf pups that produced less stress hormones in response to seeing humans followed closer. Some ventured into human camps.
Some had pups close to the humans.
The pups played with the humans.
The humans fed the pups.
This is the start of the dog.
It’s one theory as to HOW a monster from the dark became a Bunsen or a Beaker.
It’s up for debate.
This story is plausible and fits the timeline.
The science checks out.
We may never know WHY a wolf decided humans weren’t so bad or so tasty, but boy are we glad they did. ❤️
If you liked this thread and want to see more give us a follow!! @bunsenbernerbmd
Also listen to @sciencepawdcast!
Finally - give the first tweet of this thread a retweet to get the science story out there!

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More from @bunsenbernerbmd

Jun 28
What makes a dog so friendly?
Is it training?
Is it the breed?
One theory is....love.
Find out why on The Super Pawesome Science Thread!
#TSPST a spooky dog in a sheet.  Just kidding he love you.
This story and theory are from the book Dog is Love by Dr. Clive Wynne (@caninecognition) and research by Bridgett vonHoldt.
Shoutout to the scientists that made this wholesome thread pawsible!
Let’s get into it!
clivewynne.com/book-1
@caninecognition Science is pretty unanimous when it comes to dogs.
They are unique in how they interact with humans.
A good many scientists feel dogs can understand us in ways other animals can’t.
They can follow a point and hold our gaze.
This is coded in their DNA. a puppy looking to the up and left with a setting sun behind her
Read 11 tweets
Jun 21
On August 16th Bunsen had life saving surgery.

The surgical team preformed amazingly, and Bunsen made it.

They did mention that that Bunsen may need a blood transfusion during surgery...and that got me thinking.

I know NOTHING about dog blood. Image
Just like humans, dogs have different blood types, but their system is a bit more complex.

Dogs have over a dozen recognized blood types, but the most clinically important are the Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA) types. Image
The most significant blood type is DEA 1, which can be either positive or negative. Image
Read 11 tweets
May 24
The dog's nose is thousands of time more sensitive than the human nose.
New data shows it is EVEN more remarkable.
This news is HOT HOT HOT!
#TSPST A happy dog in the snow and ice
The dog nose, in a current study, shows the ability to detect thermal radiation.
That’s fancy words for heat.
The conclusion is dogs can "SENSE" warm objects! A golden retriever in the snow and ice
Wait!
How many animals can detect weak, radiating heat?
Few.
We are talking some types of snakes, vampire bats and weird beetles called black fire beetles (which we should do a thread on later)
Read 9 tweets
Jan 23
9 Secret Exercises The Fitness Industry Doesn't Want To Tell You.
Burn Calories and Build Lean Muscle.
All you need is a dog.
🧵
1. Give Me Back The Sock
This exercise works out your core as you wrestle a sock away before it's mangled. The back and forth motion blasts your abs, and the franticness of not wanting to lose another piece of clothing gives you the urgency to power through the burn.
2. OMG COME BACK HERE
This is pure cardio. You’ve left the door ajar and your dog is gone. This exercise is running to retrieve the dog before it gets a chicken or is hit by a car. Increase the difficulty by doing this in your bathrobe and crocs.
Read 11 tweets
Dec 31, 2024
Here are SEVEN fun facts about dogs that will blow your mind!
#TSPST A Berner sitting on a beach with a setting sun behind him.
1. Each dog nose print is unique!

Human may have fingerprints, but the dog nose is unique.
This isn’t just wishful fun thinking, it is a fact!
No matter the sample size, dog nose prints never repeat.
Just like the personality of dogs. ❤️ BOOP!  A dog is getting his nose booped
A happy smiling dog
2. Your dog’s paws smell like corn chips

Dogs don't wear shoes so microorganisms get into their feet.
Dogs sweat from the pads of their feet and this sweat is the perfect place for bacteria to grow.
Pseudomonas and Proteus are the microbe team responsible. A photo of Berner mountain dog paws
Read 8 tweets
Dec 29, 2024
As a team, my wife and I grew our Instagram account by 765% and our Facebook account by 6200% in one year.

Ok. Click bait title over, but let's talk social media.

Yes, it isn't our usual science or dog post, but I think many of you will find this interesting. Image
Our account here on "X" has plateaued over the last two years, and despite working on amazing content which usually does really well with thousands of likes, we haven't been pulling in new followers.

Initially this stung, but I then realized it was totally ok. Image
We have a huge community here that we are so grateful for, and I love posting and making content of our dogs and science stuff. We did well.

BUT- we have hit the max amount of people on this platform that connect with our content.

Let's talk numbers. Image
Read 13 tweets

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