We have already seen some huge advancements in the electric car industry, but it seems as though one company wants to go even further in their quest for green fuel. The Energy Harvester is a new piece of kit that could allow your tires to generate energy all on their own.

Falken Tyres

The brains behind this piece of clever tech is the parent company of Falken Tyres, Sumitomo Rubber, and Professor Hiroshi Tani from Kansai University. Together, they have produced The Energy Harvester for tires and it seems like one of those pieces of technology that seems to have been obvious now we have seen it – we just don’t know why it wasn’t invented sooner!

How It Works

This small device can be housed in a tire and it works by converting the static electricity from a rotating wheel into power. Sounds simple enough, right? There are two layers of rubber, each covered in an electrode, plus negatively and positively charged films. As the tire deforms during its rotations, static electricity is then harnessed and turned into usable power. That sounds a little less simple, but we think we’ve got it!

A Long Way To Go

As it stands, the Energy Harvester has quite a long way to go before it’ll be used to power entire vehicles. At the moment, it can only harness enough power to charge up small things like tire pressure sensors. However, that doesn’t mean that the geniuses behind this piece of technology are thinking small. With a lot more research, there’s no limit to the possibilities of this tech.

We may have to wait a while to see exactly what the Energy Harvester can do, but it could pave the way for a lot more exciting things in the future. Only time will tell!

There are some things that dogs do that are likely to test even the most patient of owners. We have picked out 25 types of dog behavior and what they actually mean.

Some dogs are completely fine with having a bath and even enjoy the feeling of being wet. However, there are some occasions when a dog might not be so happy getting cleaned by their owner. When this happens, their energy levels will shoot through the roof and they will play up in a desperate attempt to get dry. The last thing they want at that very moment is to be wet and they’ll let the owner know that through their high energy.

Many have wondered why dogs dig holes, whether it be in the ground or during a trip to the beach. It appears that there is a basic explanation for this type of behavior. It usually just means that the dog is overwhelmed with boredom and their owner is doing a lousy job of entertaining them.

Just like humans and pretty much every other warm-blooded animal, dogs will yawn from time to time. While yawning is often associated with being tired, there are other reasons why dogs yawn. One possibility is that they might be anxious and this is a form of nervous energy that they need to get off their chests, literally! However, in the same way that yawning can be “contagious” between humans, dogs can also yawn when they have witnessed their owner yawning.

There are various positions that dogs sleep in and each one has its own meaning. When a dog sleeps on their side, it means that they are comfortable around their owner and they trust them. However, if they are sleeping on their belly, that often means that they are struggling to fall asleep. Some dogs even sleep on their backs. This could mean that they are hot and if they are holding up their paws, they want to be left alone to sleep in peace.

The way that a dog looks at its owner can take many forms. For example, if they are staring at you, it probably just means that they are craving affection. However, if they are staring at you while their tongue is sticking out, that means they want your attention but are happy and comfortable while doing it. If your dog is engaging in intense eye contact with you, it means that they are trying to figure out your behavior.

The way that a dog’s ears and tail work can be pretty confusing for an owner. However, there is actually a pretty straightforward behavioral science to how they work. If a dog’s ears are pointy but their tail is relaxed, that generally means that they are chilled out. Sometimes though, dogs might point their ears forward and their tail could be pointed upwards. This usually means that they are curious about something that might be stimulating one of their senses.

On a basic level, a dog might be sticking their tongue out in a floppy manner simply because they are happy and carefree at that moment in time. However, this behavior is often connected to panting. While many believe that dogs pant simply because they’re tired, it’s actually a form of thermoregulation. Because dogs don’t sweat as humans do, panting is their body’s way of cooling itself down depending on the temperature at that time.

Barking can mean a variety of things depending on the context. More often than not, people can misinterpret a dog’s bark, often being intimidated by it when ultimately, they should have no reason to. However, the following type of barking might be quite surprising to some readers, especially dog owners. If you are with your dog and they start quietly barking before it grows incessantly louder, that probably means that they are just feeling playful and want to have a good time.

Many assume that howling is just a way that dogs communicate with other dogs during the night. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. If a dog is howling, it is rarely a good thing. It usually means that they can hear a high-pitched sound in the distance and on many occasions, humans might not even be able to hear it. Not only could the sound be annoying the dog, but it could also be hurting their ears.

This behavior trait only applies when you have more than one dog in the home. If two of your dogs are sleeping together, lying together or sitting together very closely, this always means that they have a very close bond and without a shadow of a doubt, they trust each other. It is in a dog’s instinct to protect the ones they love and sleeping is when one is at their most vulnerable to be attacked.

This seems to be a type of behavior that many species, including humans, partake in. Bringing gifts isn’t just a thing that dogs do and across most species, it usually means the same thing. Even though dogs aren’t necessarily the most thoughtful gift bringers, they ultimately just want to please whoever they’re bringing a gift to. A shoe or a piece of fabric might not be too high on an owner’s Christmas list, but it’s the thought that counts.

Ever wondered why your dog is more than happy to stick their head out of the car window but never feel the need to jump out at any given moment? Well, for a start, they usually have no intention of leaving their owner if they feel safe and comfortable. The reason they stick their head out is pretty simple. They like the feeling of the wind blowing on their face and they enjoy looking outside.

While many assume that dogs lick their owners to clean them, think again. There are a number of reasons why man’s best friends decide to stick their tongue out and plant it on our faces. The most mundane explanation is that they like the salty taste on our skin and can’t get enough of it. However, the obvious reason also qualifies – it’s a sign of affection. It also acts as a way for the dog to relax and blow off some steam.

Also referred to sometimes as the “Curly Whirly,” many dogs do the “Fox” position and there’s a good reason for it – they’re cold and want to warm themselves up. They do this by hiding their legs under their body and sometimes, they even cover their faces with their tail. Temperature aside, it can also act as a defense mechanism if the dog has suffered some sort of pain or trauma, like going to the vet or undergoing surgery.

Probably one of the most obvious signs of behavior on this list. If a dog’s ears are pulled back, they are showing their teeth and are snarling, it most likely means that they are either angry or aggressive about something. However, a low growl can mean something slightly different, even though it might look similar to snarling. Instead of anger and aggression, a dog could potentially be scared if they are demonstrating some sort of low growl.

Raising paws can mean a variety of things. If a dog is standing or sitting with their paws up in the air, it is usually an indicator that they are concentrating or extremely focused. However, this shouldn’t be confused with when a dog is sitting and decides to raise one paw to its owner. If they do this, then it usually just means that the dog is either hungry or is desperate to get some much-needed playtime under their collar.

There are many ways that a dog might demonstrate to their owner that they want some love and affection. However, the following type of behavior is the most unique sign of that! If a dog is squinting their eyes in front of you, that more often than not means that they are in a warm, pleasant mood. Moreover, they are looking for attention from their owner or whoever’s around at the time. So if your dog’s squinting, don’t worry, they just want your love.

If you allow your dog full access to your home while you’re out at work, there is a good chance that they will hop into your bed and relax there or even fall asleep. This is because they want to feel close to their owner, especially because their bed is covered in their scent. Of course, when the owner returns home and goes into their own bed, the dog will also want to join them to feel like they aren’t left out.

You might be wondering why your couch is in a million pieces every time you come home from work. Why does your dog have a tendency to be so aggressive to your couch? In short, the dog is probably suffering from some sort of separation anxiety and this is its way of relieving some of his energy. This isn’t exclusively a couch problem. A dog can display this behavior by destroying virtually any part of the home.

It turns out that the reason that dogs chase their tail evolves as they get older. When they are puppies, they will chase their own tail because they aren’t actually aware that the tail is a part of their body. However, by the time they are old enough to understand that the tail is theirs, this will not stop the dog from chasing it. They simply want something to play with. This is also a type of behavior that some cats demonstrate.

While it’s inevitable that dogs might try eating mysterious things on the ground out of curiosity, they don’t tend to eat grass as often as you’d think. But when they do, it has nothing to do with them being hungry. They might be, but eating grass is no indicator of this. If your dog is eating grass, then it’s more likely that they are thirsty! Although dogs don’t need to eat grass, it is actually believed that it can help with their digestion.

You’d think that a dog would lean on their owner out of love and affection. While that is partly true, that is only half of the story. On the flip side, the dog usually feels neglected at that moment in time and overcompensates for some much-needed attention. However, if a dog happens to be lying on your feet, that has a completely different meaning to it. This usually means that they are feeling extremely territorial and possessive.

This is arguably one of the most straightforward types of behavior on this list and its meaning should come as no surprise. When you return home from a hard day’s work and the first thing you experience is your dog jumping on you, this only means one thing – they missed you. Some dogs have to wait all day for their beloved owners to come back home and as soon as they do, they are overwhelmed with joy.

While a dog wagging its tail is often associated with happiness and comfort, a fast wagging tail can often mean the opposite and is an important sign to watch out for. It could actually mean that the dog is full of anxiety. Although a dog will usually wag their tail from one side to the other, they could also wag it in a variety of motions. This normally means that they have plenty of energy to burn.

There are plenty of peculiar sleeping positions that dogs have. However, some owners might be alarmed when they see their dog sleeping on their back with their legs up in the air. What could be even more worrying is seeing those legs moving frantically while the dog is in mid-sleep. Have no fear though. This simply means that the dog is having a dream! It could specifically mean that they are dreaming about chasing something, which is perfectly normal.