Dear Dr. Nucleus,

My sister's cat just had another litter of kittens. I tell her it is wrong to keep allowing Fluffers to get “in that way” unless she can find homes for all those kitties first. So, she says that cats have lots of uses and I should stick to my basement laboratory and leave kitties to her.

Doc, do cats really, really have a use?

Signed
Han Lector

Dear Han,

Science always needs cats!

Samples of Science's use for cats:

1. Electro-conductivity experiments. Rub the cat the "wrong" way and then touch a suspected electrical conductor with the cat. Does the cat jump? It was an electrical conductor.

2. Gravity checker -- release a cat at least 1 meter away from any massive object (e.g., the earth). Does the cat appear to be attracted to the object (i.e., fall)? If so, there is gravity.

3. Sound experiment -- place cat in Bell jar. Connect an electrical can opener nearby (less than 1 meter). Run the can opener; does the cat seem excited? Now pump all air out of the Bell jar; is the cat still excited? Conclusion: sound does not travel in a vacuum.

4. Static electricity charge attraction -- put cat in dryer set on "Fluff" and run dryer for 15 minutes. Remove cat and sprinkle pepper nearby (less than 1 meter away). Is the pepper attracted to the cat? How far will cat sneezes travel in air? Will the same experiment work in a Bell jar? In a Bell jar with a vacuum?

Hope this helps your sister and you who thought that there was no shortage of cats.

Always helpful,
Dr. Nucleus