Scientists trying to figure out how cheetahs manage to run
faster than any other mammal might have a few tips to pass along
to human runners, reports the New York Times' Well blog. For one
thing, build up those thighs. The cheetah has powerful upper
legs, which allow them to pump faster than, say, a greyhounds'
legs. (The two animals were compared in the experiment because
they're similar in build, but wild cheetahs top out at 65mph and
the dogs at 40mph. The fastest humans clock in around 28mph.)
Humans also might want to try light running shoes because
"having less weight in the lower portion of the leg aids in
swift repositioning," says the lead researcher. That's probably
not mind-boggling advice for two-legged sprinters, but maybe the
most interesting part of the experiment was about the big cats
themselves. Scientists timed cheetahs from zoos and found that
they reach speeds of about 40mph. It's only their wild brethren,
maybe more used to galloping after dinner, that can hit 65mph.