animal symbolism, astrology, chinese influence, cultural traditions, dog, dragon, east asian culture, eto, folklore, horoscope, horse, japan, japanese zodiac, juunishi, lunar calendar, monkey, myth and legends, ox, personality traits, pig, rabbit, rat, rooster, sheep, snake, tiger, wild boar, zodiac animals

The Japanese Zodiac: Which Animal Are You?

Japan is a country steeped in rich cultural traditions and folklore. The Japanese have a deep connection with nature, reflected in their symbolic use of animals.  These creatures, whether real or mythical, have profound meanings in Japanese society. Over time, they have been woven into 12 zodiac animals known as juunishi, each representing a year ...

Nathan Machoka

Twelve animals of the Japanese zodiac.

Snakes Can Hear You Scream, New Research Reveals

Experts have long understood that snakes can feel sound vibrations through the ground — what we call “tactile” sensing — but we’ve puzzled over whether they can also hear airborne sound vibrations, and particularly over how they react to sounds. In a new paper published in PLOS ONE, we conclude snakes use hearing to help ...

Troy Oakes

An alert snake.

5 Powerful Signs of the Chinese Zodiac

On the surface, some people do not appear to be special. They have no status and lead a normal life working 9 to 5 seemingly without ambition or aspiration. Little do people realize that these people are actually working hard in preparation for their future. In addition, they are powerful; eventually, such people will come ...

David Jirard

A display of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Chinese Zodiac Signs: How Can All Snakes Be the Same?

According to Chinese zodiac signs, everyone born in a particular year shares the same characteristics of a particular Chinese zodiac sign. For example, everyone born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the snake has the characteristic of the snake — intelligent, calm, intuitive, introspective, and organized. However, you might be wondering: “How can every person ...

Emma Lu

Statue of a snake, along with the other animals in the Chinese Zodiac, in a fountain.