This week we’re taking a deep dive into the world of pets! These stories about our beloved fluffy companions are sure to warm your hearts.
Mark your calendars, too! This Thursday, February 19, NOVA will be hosting an in-person screening of their new documentary Can Dogs Talk? See exclusive clips, hear a live panel discussion, and ask any questions you’re curious about. Register for the event here.
And for today’s mega holiday: Happy Lunar New Year! Ramadan Mubarak! Happy Mardi Gras!
Yours in media,
Elizabeth He, Visual Communications Editor
P.S. For the full printable primetime schedule, visit gbh.org/explore
This is a web edition of GBH's The Deep Dive, a weekly newsletter bringing you the best GBH has to offer.
Pets We Love
NOVA: Can Dogs Talk? (episode)
Do speech buttons really allow dogs to talk to us? Scientists investigate.
Also, watch this interview with Dr. Federico Rossano, Christina Hunger, and Sascha Crasnow from NOVA’s Can Dogs Talk? featured on The Curiosity Desk.
Petting Other People’s Dogs, Even Briefly, Can Boost Your Health (article & audio)
Research shows that spending just 5 to 20 minutes interacting with someone else’s pooch can reduce stress hormones and boost overall well-being. Woof!
NOVA: Cat Tales (episode)
Goddess, demon...house pet? What does science say about the human relationship with cats? Meow meow!
The Pets That Called the White House Home (video)
Nearly all U.S. Presidents have been pet owners. GBH’s Jared Bowen takes us through an exhibition at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum that tells the story of pets that called the White House home, from dogs and cats to possums and badgers. The exhibit runs until April 26. Let’s meet the animals!
Caring for Our Pets
Why Health Care Costs for Pets Have Been Surging (article & audio)
The cost of health care for pets has doubled over the past five years.What’s driving the increase?
How to Give Your Pet a Fulfilling Life (article & audio)
Animal behavioralists share how to keep your pets happy. Here are their top tips for creating a truly content home!
Is Your Aging Pet Going Through a Midlife Crisis? (article & audio)
Veterinarian Kelly Fishman discusses the early signs of aging in dogs and cats — and shares tips on how to make their senior years as comfortable and joyful as possible. We all go through it, so let’s help our pets through it, too.
Recipe of the Week
Savory Roasted Carrots (recipe)
Before you cook, cut a few carrots into bite-size pieces to share with your pet (no seasonings for them, please). Then, add some umami to your roasted veggies. Savor the flavor!
Heartwarming Pet Stories
Holy Cow, Black Sheep: Popular Farm Animal Idioms Explained (article)
Fans of All Creatures Great and Small know that life in Darrowby revolves around feedings, calvings, and the care of animals both large and small. Many familiar expressions trace their roots back to farm work and time spent among animals. Here’s a look at a few of those idioms, where they originated, and what they mean.
Meet Fire Chief, a 50-Year-Old Rescue Snapping Turtle (short)
Matt Patterson has been a key figure in Fire Chief’s rehabilitation. He provides a safe long-term home for the turtle to live, including a pond on his property that Fire Chief loves! Learn how Patterson helped nurse this remarkable reptile back to health.
Stories from the Stage: Tracey Starin’s Dog Saves the Day (short)
Tracey’s shih-tzu accidentally escaped and became a mighty 12-pound hero. Watch to find out how she and Tracey first connected.
Chimp Adopts Adorable Genet Kitten (clip)
Just like us, chimps keep pets! “Spy Bushbaby,” an animatronic camera, helps document this unique event: a chimp has adopted an abandoned baby genet cat and is keeping it as a pet. How cute!
Dive Into America 250
Paul Revere and Industrial Espionage (short)
Do you know Paul Revere as manufacturer? Learn more about his fascinating side quest.
Off Topic
- From a Jean-Michel Basquiat oil-stick drawing under the Christmas tree, to a 1969 Alexander Calder sculpture birthday present, to a six-figure housewarming gift and more, unwrap the surprises and enjoy this ANTIQUES ROADSHOW compilation. Can you guess which two are valued at $500,000 each? (video)
- Season Three of “The Big Dig” podcast has dropped. Who is Carlos “The Codfather” Rafael really – a folk hero, a crook, a righteous rebel, or a selfish con man? Watch the video version here. (podcast series)
- Watching Olympic figure skating? Learn how judges make their calls. Join The Curiosity Desk's Edgar B. Herwick III as he explores the world of judging those twizzles, axels, and toe loops. (video)
