Flora and fauna: Why dogs tilt their heads; women lobster boat leaders; cacti losing their arms; what do moths do?

Photo by Lourdes Balduque, Getty Images via Scientific American

One of the cutest things a dog can do is the signature "doggy head tilt." You know the one--you ask your pup a question and bloop--head tilts, ears perk and eyes lock in a curious stare. Scientists who wondered what this endearing move means "have published just one study focusing on possible reasons for head tilting in dogs," reports Stephanie Pappas of Scientific American. "That research suggests the animals might cock their furry noggins when processing familiar words."

Who's super strong, tough and deals with clawed crustaceans? Women lobster boat captains. "On the boat, you must always have one eye on the trap lines that threaten to entangle you and pull you overboard. There is paperwork, too: You must complete an apprenticeship, and you will have to pass the U.S. Coast Guard's captain's test," reports Kirsten Lie-Nielsen of Modern Farmer. "If you are a woman, the challenges don't stop there. You may be the only woman fishing out of your harbor, vying for respect in an industry that, throughout its long history, has welcomed only men onboard. Every day, you'll be working to prove you belong on the boat and not keeping the books back at the wharf."

View of a Saguaro affected by Arizona's extreme heat.
(Photo by Liliana Salgado, Reuters)

This summer's extreme heat has done more than exhaust people. It has parched plant life--even to the point these cacti's arms have fallen off. "Arizona's saguaro cacti, a symbol of the U.S. West, are leaning, losing arms and in some cases falling over during the state's record streak of extreme heat, a scientist said," reports Liliana Salgado of Reuters. "Plant physiologists at the Phoenix garden are studying how much heat cacti can take. Until recently, many thought the plants were perfectly adapted to high temperatures and drought. Arizona's heat wave is testing those assumptions."

Sometimes it feels as if nothing is safe anymore--not even mowing the lawn. "Peggy Jones was mowing her lawn when a snake fell from the sky. It quickly wrapped itself around her right forearm, striking at her face. The snake spewed venom on her glasses lenses," reports Allie Kelly of The Dallas Morning News. "Seconds later, a hawk swooped down to collect its prey. The bird began clawing at Jones' forearm and cut her as it tried to grab the snake."

The painted lichen moth has technicolor wings.
(Photo by Carla Rhodes, The Washington Post)

Moths are underappreciated, beautiful and essential ecosystem insects. "Their sheer numbers only begin to speak to their relevance: One in 10 described species of organisms on Earth is a moth, and a recent study from the University of Sussex in Britain showed that moths are more efficient pollinators than bees," reports Akito Kawahara of The Washington Post. "Moths also contribute directly to our lives; they produce silk we use for our clothing, for example. Did you know that the worm in a bottle of tequila is also a moth caterpillar?"

A little used method to protect livestock from the heat is "silvopasture'. . . the method involves intentionally incorporating trees on the same land used by grazing livestock, in a way that benefits both," reports John McCracken of Grist. "Researchers and farmers say silvopastures help improve the health of the soil by protecting it from wind and water while encouraging an increase of nutrient-rich organic matter, like cow manure, onto the land."