Happy National Dog Day!

IFLScience! posted this video from DNews that explains how the earth’s magnetic field likely affects how your dog poops.

For realz.

This is utterly fascinating. If you’ve ever wondered why your dog has to spin around and get the exact right placement before pooping, this provides the scientific answer.

According to researchers who followed 70 dogs of 37 different breeds for two years, they all preferred a north-south alignment to poop when the earth’s magnetic fields were calm. And they all actively avoided an east-west alignment.

It’s called magnetoception, tapping into a magnetic field to align or use for directions, and birds use it in migration. And, apparently, your dog uses it to find the perfect place to poop, too.

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