Scientists have explained the glow of cat's eyes in the dark

Behind the retina of cats is the mirror layer of the tapetum lucidum, which reflects light. Thanks to this reflection, the cat's eyes are able to glow in the dark. This was reported by Popular Science magazine.

The ancient Egyptians believed that cats' eyes held the sun after sunset, giving them shine at night. The real cause was discovered less than a hundred years ago, in 1929, and only later did scientists understand how this feature affects vision.

The retina is a thin layer of the part of the eye that absorbs light and converts it into signals for the brain. There is a mirror layer behind the cat's retina that humans do not have. In the eyes of cats, light that passes through the retina and is not absorbed enters the tapetum lucidum, which reflects it back through the retina. This gives the retina a second chance to catch the light. As a result, the glow in the eyes of animals at night is the light reflected from the mirror layer.

Due to this feature, cats have significantly better photosensitivity compared to humans, which allows them to see even the weakest light sources. They can see in light conditions that appear to be complete darkness to humans. This is a very useful ability for animals that hunt at night.

Cats are not the only animals with a mirror layer in their retinas. Cows, sheep, goats, and horses have the same eye structure. This helps them to spot predators in dim light. It is also possessed by fish, dolphins and whales, which use it to navigate in dark water. On the other hand, squirrels, pigs, and most primates, as well as humans, do not have this layer because they remain active during the day and do not need night vision.

Which cat is better to have in the apartment: tips from breeders and veterinarians

And how to prepare the house for the arrival of a cat

The structure of cat's eyes does not leave indifferent specialists in technological fields of activity. For example, Dr. Yong Min Son, a professor of electrical engineering at the Korean Institute of Science and Technology, designed a camera inspired by cat eyes.

According to him, he has long been attracted by the ability of animals to see in a variety of light conditions. His camera has a reflective layer to enhance photos and videos in low light conditions. He shared that it helps to improve photosensitivity without additional energy consumption.

As expected, the camera showed improved sensitivity in low-light conditions thanks to an artificial reflector inspired by the mirror layer in the retina. Subsequently, Yong Min Son added a slit-shaped hole, imitating the vertically elongated cat's pupils.

"In addition to cameras, similar principles can be applied to robot machine vision systems, autonomous systems, and even wearable or surveillance devices that must work reliably in both bright and low—light conditions," the specialist added.

Maria Tsareva, a clinical psychologist at the Leleya School of Women's Psychology, in an interview with Izvestia on February 13, ruled out an unambiguous positive effect of cats on humans. According to her, there are not enough scientific studies that study the influence of cats on the human condition. At the same time, the specialist noted that the presence of a living being nearby in the morning can smoothly increase dopamine levels in men and women.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.