Cat Fact #2! Cats: the masters of Newtonian physics

There is a part of Newtonian physics that dictates that an object with three different axes of symmetry will tumble when rotating about the axis of middle length. It is very well explained here, but I'll give you the gist of it. Find a book, a phone, or some other rectangular, three-dimensional object, with a different length to each of those three dimensions. Toss it, spinning, into the air and catch it. Try spinning it a different way. There are three axes of symmetry to spin that object around (because diagonals don't count), so try the last way.

You should find that there are two ways to spin the object that make it easy to catch, and one that makes it tricky. That's because with three axes of different lengths, the object always wants to spin on the longest or the shortest axis. Don't ask me why, I'm no physicist - ask the guy who wrote the linked post. All I can tell you is that it's true, because when you try to spin the object about the middle-sized axis, it also tumbles on one of the other axes, making it difficult to catch. Which is a fun wee fact to whip out at parties or picnics or the library as you juggle the books.

It's also responsible for the gif of the dancing handle on the ISS that we all saw get famous for fifteen minutes in 2015.

So how is that a cat fact? Well, since we all have to acknowledge that cats are our superiors, we can fully understand and agree that they have an innate understanding of Newtonian physics and will certainly use this to their own advantage, and if possible, our detriment. When a cat is falling, it instinctively arches its spine to form itself into a falling shape with three axes of different lengths, and therefore tumbles on its third axis, and thus lands on its feet every time. We've tested this... extensively... over the years. As far back as pre-video.

Bonus fact!

When you are in zero-gravity (either while in space or falling at the same velocity as your surroundings), the prevalent feeling is of a constant fall. Astronauts need to get used to it, since they need to be calm and collected even in panic-situations while in space, so they train on the vomit comet, which flies in a parabolic shape, simulating zero-gravity for around 40 seconds at a time. The vomit comet is also used for various scientific research pursuits, so one day, knowing the above fact about cats, they took one aboard. Here's how it reacts.