PAINT STRIPES ON YOUR COWS

Scientists in Japan have discovered a way to reduce the need for using pesticides on livestock. A study published in the journal PLoS One found that stripes on cows significantly reduced attacks by biting flies. The study’s inspiration came from past experiments that suggested the black and white striped coats of zebras attracted fewer flies than the solid black color of the Japanese cows that were studied. Flies are less likely to land on black and white surfaces due to the polarization of light, because it impairs their perception. Researchers found that the zebra-painted cattle were bitten nearly 50% less than solid-black animals.
* Besides, it’s really funny.
* 50% fewer fly bites? Do the flies bite the black stripes, or the white ones?
* You know, they make black and white cows naturally.
* The cows like it because the vertical stripes are so slimming.