Earlier this month, people across the country scrambled to get special glasses so they could witness the solar eclipse. Much of the country stopped for a few minutes in the middle of the day.
However, while humans seemed to need these protective lenses animals out in the wild didn’t. Why?
In the path of totality, researchers were keeping an eye on animals to see how four minutes of darkness changed their behaviors. This week on Something Offbeat, Dr. Adam Hartstone-Rose, a professor of biological science at North Carolina State University, was one of those researchers. He joined “Something Offbeat” to discuss his findings.
“I used to get this question all the time: ‘Should I be scared? Like, do I need to put glasses on my dog?’ And I always tell them, you know, as a fashion statement, I’m 100% for it. But as a safety precaution, it’s not necessary,” Hartstone-Rose explained.
Listen here to find out why and to learn how tortoises, giraffes, and other animals responded to the celestial event.
Each week, “Something Offbeat” takes a deeper look at an unusual headline. If you have suggestions for stories the podcast should cover, send them to us at somethingoffbeat@audacy.com.