Animals are such unique creatures that constantly surprise us with their unusual abilities. But what if I told you that some creatures can actually detect diseases?
Just by smelling or sensing changes in someone’s body, animals can identify conditions like cancer, heart attacks, and tuberculosis.
This skill makes them true superheroes who help to save human lives.
Let’s take a look at 6 animals whose abilities make it easier to detect and fight serious diseases.
1. Rats
Researchers in Korea set out to learn more about rats’ sense of smell. Their shocking discovery showed that rats can sense a liquid which indicates the presence of lung cancer.
The rats’ task was simple, but effective: all they had to do was jump onto a floating ledge after smelling the liquid. After hundreds of tests, rats showed a 82% accuracy in detecting it.
Pretty impressive, I must admit!
2. Bees
As hard workers as bees are, they had to show the world that not only mammals are capable of helping.
We’re not even aware how keen their sense of smell actually is. It successfully helped them in discovering diseases like tuberculosis and diabetes.
Even the most subtle scents, such as a patient’s breath, were enough for the bees to detect an illness.
Can you imagine that something so tiny can have such a big impact?
3. Roundworms
You’ve read that right! Even worms can be helpful in discovering diseases.
A very interesting study showed that these worms are highly attracted to cancer cells. Out of the 50 roundworms put around healthy and cancerous cells, 70% of them moved towards the cancerous ones.
Tiny but mighty, not all heroes wear capes!
4. Pigeons
The size of their brains is often a target for jokes, but if pigeons went to med school, they wouldn’t be the worst students out there!
It might surprise you, but pigeons can actually detect breast cancer in pictures.
Researchers successfully trained them to tell apart from microscopic images of cancerous and normal breast tissues. The birds were rewarded with food, which led to a successful outcome in their training.
5. Cats
We know that cats have a keen sense of smell, but do you know how precise it actually is?
This ability allows them to smell changes in hormones caused by cancerous cells, and even recognise human pain during heart attacks.
Cat owners claim that their pets’ behaviour changes when feeling an illness. They become clingy, and start to purr and meow.
What did we do to deserve such creatures?
6. Dogs
Of all the different noses, of course the dog’s had to be here, too.
Many scientists believe that dogs can smell 100,000 times more accurately than humans. It comes as no surprise that these pawtastic creatures can detect various diseases.
Just by sniffing a patient or its breath, dogs can find illnesses like colon cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.
Just another way dogs prove that their love and dedication is unconditional.