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Getting wet isn’t REALLY what makes wool shrink; it merely exacerbates the friction between the wool fibers, which is stronger in one direction than another, so when agitated in the washer or dryer, they migrate in relation to each other in a process called “felting.”
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To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords:
Fiber: a threadlike structure forming part of the muscular, nervous, connective, or other tissue in the human or animal body
Felting: the process by which wool or another textile can be agitated, often along with moisture or heat, to cause the fibers to migrate amongst themselves and mat together into a dense smooth surface
Ratchet: a device consisting of a bar or wheel with a set of angled teeth that allow motion in one direction only
Wool: soft curly or wavy hair forming the coat of a sheep or similar animal, especially when cut off the animal & prepared for use in making cloth or yarn
Mammal: a warm-blooded, bony, & hairy/furry animal, the females of which give birth to live young and nurse them with milk

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Credits (and Twitter handles):
Script Writer: Emily Elert (@eelert)
Script Editor: Alex Reich (@alexhreich)
Video Illustrator: Qingyang (@QCVisual)
Video Director: Henry Reich (@MinutePhysics)
Video Narrator: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)
With Contributions From: Ever Salazar, Peter Reich, David Goldenberg
Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder: http://www.soundcloud.com/drschroeder

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Like our videos?
Subscribe to MinuteEarth on YouTube: http://goo.gl/EpIDGd
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If you liked this week’s video, we think you might also like:
Is it Better to Walk or Run in the Rain? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MqYE2UuN24

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References:

Gupta, N. P., Agarwal, R., & Pant, S. (2009). Factors affecting felting of wool: An overview. Colourage, 56(1).

Johnson, N. A., & Russell, I. (Eds.). (2008). Advances in wool technology. Elsevier. https://goo.gl/vZ9eCn

Makinson, K. R. (1972). The Role of the Scales of Wool Fibers in Felting and in Shrinkproofing. Wool Sci. Rev, (42), 2-16.

Makinson, K. R. (1979). Shrinkproofing of wool (Vol. 8). M. Dekker. Chicago.

Menkart, J., & Speakman, J. B. (1945). Scaliness of Wool Fibres. Nature, 156, 143-143. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v156/n3953/abs/156143a0.html

van der Vegt, A. K. (1955). A study on the mechanism of wool felting. Excelsior.

Direct download: Why_Dont_Sheep_Shrink_In_The_Rain-.mp4
Category:general -- posted at: 11:02am EDT

A tiny change in a molecule’s geometry completely changes its effects on the human body.
How We Made This Video (Ever & David Talk About Drugs): https://youtu.be/tefxgYP0BVM

Thanks also to our supporters on https://www.patreon.com/MinuteEarth
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If you want to learn more about this topic, start your googling with:
Enantiomers: Molecules that are mirror images of each other.
Chirality: A geometric property that makes a molecule non-superimposable on its mirror image.
Methamphetamine: A central nervous system stimulant.
Levmetamfetamine: The new name for the left-handed version of methamphetamine, which acts as a vasoconstrictor.
Carvone: A terpenoid found in many essential oils.

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Credits (and Twitter handles):
Script Writer: David Goldenberg (@dgoldenberg)
Video Illustrator: Ever Salazar (@eversalazar)
Video Narrator: Ever Salazar (@eversalazar)
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Alex Reich, Kate Yoshida, Emily Elert, Peter Reich
Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder: http://www.soundcloud.com/drschroeder

_________________________________________

Like our videos?
Subscribe to MinuteEarth on YouTube: http://goo.gl/EpIDGd
Support us on Patreon: https://goo.gl/ZVgLQZ

Also, say hello on:
Facebook: http://goo.gl/FpAvo6
Twitter: http://goo.gl/Y1aWVC
And find us on itunes: https://goo.gl/sfwS6n
___________________________________________

If you liked this week’s video, we think you might also like:
Breaking Bad: http://www.amc.com/shows/breaking-bad

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References:

Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL., et al. “The Making or Breaking of Covalent Bonds Involves Large Energy Changes”. Molecular Cell Biology. Section 2:1 (22). Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NB...

Wallach, J. “A Comprehensive Guide to the Clandestine Chemistry of 'Breaking Bad'”
Vice. (2013). Retrieved from: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/ar....

Thanks to the following experts for their input and feedback:

Jason Wallach, Vice writer and chemist

Donna Nelson, University of Oklahoma chemistry professor and technical advisor to ‘Breaking Bad’

Adam Braunschweig, CUNY chemistry professor (http://www.braunschweiggroup.org/)

Justin Dragna, University of Texas chemistry professor

Direct download: Why_Some_Molecules_Have_Evil_Twins.mp4
Category:general -- posted at: 10:55am EDT

Check out how cats became our favorite little murder machines.
To learn how dogs and humans got together, watch the companion video over at It's OK To Be Smart: https://youtu.be/tggdERc8E6Y.

Thanks also to our supporters on https://www.patreon.com/MinuteEarth
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If you want to learn more about this topic, here are some keywords to get your googling started:

Puma: The big cat with the largest home range.
Felix silvestris: The wildcat that is the direct ancestor to all modern house cats.
Bastet: Egyptian cat goddess.
Pseudaelurus: A prehistoric cat that is the common ancestor to all modern felines.

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Credits (and Twitter handles):
Script Writer: Sarah Keartes
Script Editor: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)

Video Illustrator: Qingyang Chen (@QCvisual)
Video Director: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)
Video Narrator: Joe Hanson (@DrJoeHanson)
With Contributions From: Ever Salazar, Henry Reich, Alex Reich, Peter Reich, David Goldenberg
Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder: http://www.soundcloud.com/drschroeder

_________________________________________

Like our videos?
Subscribe to MinuteEarth on YouTube: http://goo.gl/EpIDGd
Support us on Patreon: https://goo.gl/ZVgLQZ

Also, say hello on:
Facebook: http://goo.gl/FpAvo6
Twitter: http://goo.gl/Y1aWVC

And find us on itunes: https://goo.gl/sfwS6n

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References:

Hu, Yaowu, et al. ""Earliest evidence for commensal processes of cat domestication."" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111.1 (2014): 116-120."

Montague, Michael J., et al. ""Comparative analysis of the domestic cat genome reveals genetic signatures underlying feline biology and domestication."" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111.48 (2014): 17230-17235.

O’Brien, Stephen J., and Warren E. Johnson. The evolution of cats. Scientific American 297.1 (2007): 68-75.

"The Lion in the Living Room"" - Abigail Tucker http://amzn.to/2ppLNxz (Public library: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/956395842)

Vigne, Jean-Denis, et al. Earliest “Domestic” Cats in China Identified as Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). PloS one 11.1 (2016): e0147295.

Human-cat burial image provided courtesy of Pr . Jean Guilaine excavations

Direct download: How_Cats_Became_our_Feline_Overlords_ft._Its_Okay_To_Be_Smart.mp4
Category:general -- posted at: 10:52am EDT

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