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

Sep 16
Your dog and cat are making you a better person.

Here's how.
🧵 Yep it’s a photo of two dog...
1. You are in better shape.

Most dogs need to get walked.

The average American gets just shy of 15 minutes of exercise a day.

Dog owners get more. Some studies say double or triple the average.

Regardless, Fido is there helping you get your steps in.

Steps!
2. You are protected from strokes.

Cat owners have fewer strokes.

They just do.

Science has ideas why, but the calming affect of a cat is the biggest theory.

The gentle purr of a cat lowers blood pressure which is a factor in strokes.

Meow.
Read 14 tweets
Sep 13
We used A.I. to write a movies based on some data from our account.
It's mostly Nonsense, but probably would make an excellent Netflix show.
Here is act 1.
Annoying Lemon
A Screenplay by Jason Zackowski
INT. THE FARM - AFTERNOON

Protector Scientist DOG BUNSEN BERNER is arguing with Nonsense.
CART PULLER LUNA NEWFIE arrives. BUNSEN tries to hug LUNA but she shakes him off.

BUNSEN
Please Luna, don't leave me.
LUNA
I'm sorry Bunsen, but I'm looking for somebody a bit more brave. Somebody who faces his fears head on, instead of running away.
BUNSEN
I am such a person!
LUNA frowns.

LUNA
I'm sorry, Bunsen. I just don't feel excited by this relationship anymore.
LUNA leaves.
Read 7 tweets
Sep 13
Cats will randomly scratch up stuff in your house.
Dadguy’s computer bag is getting shredded.
Is declawing cats a solution?
No. It’s a terrible idea.
Find out more on The Super Pawesome Science Thread!
#TSPST Image
Ginger has a scratching post, but ignores it for two things - dadguy’s computer bag and the back of our new couch.
School teacher Beaker keeps Ginger from messing with the couch too much, but that computer bag is getting mangled.
Luckily, Ginger is an absolute sweetheart. She has never scratched a human out of anger, just by accident in play. Beaker and Bunsen have gotten the claw a few times, with Beaker getting a couple bloody noses.
In Ginger’s defence, Beaker deserved it. Image
Read 11 tweets
Sep 12
How old is your dog in “dog years”?
You might have heard 1 dog year is 7 human years, but the truth (and science) is more complicated.
Let’s break it down on The Super Pawesome Science Thread!
#TSPST A happy puppy lying on a de...A majestic adult dog on top...
The truth is, dog are just older than we think. This isn’t based on looking at dog or seeing their physical decline, it’s sneaking a peek into their DNA. Inside their DNA, a better picture of aging develops. A baby golden smiling on a ...An adult golden standing in...
One interesting thing about dogs is they live in literally the same environment as humans AND have a similar lifestyle. There are few environmental factors that differ between dogs and humans, so DNA can be compared fairly! A large dog sitting behind ...
Read 9 tweets
Aug 25
When we eat plants we kinda run on star power.
When we eat animals, it’s just second hand star power.
If we get direct star power we can get star damage.
Read 6 tweets
Aug 25
Bunsen is a big lovable bear.
He wouldn’t hesitate to attempt to rescue anyone he cares about.
Science has concluded your dog would too.
Let’s all have a good cry over
The Super Pawesome Science Thread!
#TSPST A big bear Berner running w...
There are going to be variations in how much “rescue” a dog has in them. If dadguy fell and broke his ankle while Beaker was digging or hunting, he might get ignored. If it was MommyFav and Bunsen was around, Bunsen would Kool-Aid OH YEAH man himself through a fence to help.
Science looked at how dogs WOULD react to their human if they were in distress and the conclusion was wholesome and amazing.
There is surprising little research done on this, so a team at Arizona State University set out to get the data. A dog dressed in full battl...
Read 8 tweets

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