Veronika ist eine Braunvieh-Kuh,die auf einer Almwiese im Kärntner Gailtal lebt.Sie gehört der Familie von Wittkar Wiegele, einem Biobauern, der Veronika nicht zur Milch- oder Fleischproduktion hält – die Kuh sei vielmehr eine Art Haustier, erklärte Wiegele gegenüber dem ORF.
Wie viele haustiere habe auch Veronika ihre Eigenheiten. Schon vor einigen Jahren beobachtete der Biobauer, dass sie kleine Äste vom Boden aufhob, um sich damit gegen Fliegen zu wehren und juckende Körperstellen zu kratzen. Im Laufe der Zeit wurde sie darin immer besser – mittlerweile nutzt Veronika auch Rechen, Schrubber und Besen, um an schwer erreichbare Körperstellen zu kommen und ihren Juckreiz gezielt zu lindern.
einzigartiges Verhalten
Table of Contents
Aus wissenschaftlicher Sicht ist Veronikas Verhalten nicht nur unüblich, sondern weltweit bisher sogar einzigartig.Denn die Kärntner Kuh hat im laufe der Zeit gelernt, die Stöcke und Besen auf unterschiedliche Arten zu nutzen. Auf ihrem Rücken kratzt sich Veronika am liebsten mit den Borsten des Besens und großflächigen Schwungbewegungen – bei empfindlicheren Körperstellen wie dem Bauch und Euter nutzt sie hingegen den Besenstiel und vorsichtigere Stoßbewegungen.
Erfinderische Kuh
Ein Video der klugen Kuh erreichte schließlich auch Alice Auersperg vom Messerli Forschungsinstitut für Mensch-Tier-Beziehung an der Veterinärmedizinischen Universität Wien (Vetmeduni Wien). Die Aufnahmen weckten sofort das Interesse der Kognitionsbiologin, die erst kürzlich ein Buch über den „Erfindergeist der Tiere” veröffentlichte. „Dieses Video war auf den ersten Blick etwas besonderes, weil Werkzeuggebrauch bei Kühen bisher noch nicht wirklich untersucht worden ist”, erklärt sie im Gespräch mit ORF Wissen.
Dass Veronika beim Kratzen offensichtlich gezielt entscheidet
“`html
What is the status of the Artemis program as of January 19, 2026?
The Artemis program is currently experiencing delays, with the crewed Artemis III mission now targeted for September 2026, and Artemis IV rescheduled to 2028. These shifts stem from challenges with spacesuit advancement and the availability of the Starship Human Landing System (HLS).
Originally envisioned to return humans to the Moon by 2024, the Artemis program has faced numerous hurdles.The program aims to establish a lasting human presence on the Moon and use it as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars. The core of the program relies on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft, with commercial partners providing key components like the HLS.
On January 12, 2026, NASA announced the revised schedule following a thorough review of the program. NASA’s press release detailed the reasons for the delay, citing the complexity of developing the necessary technologies and ensuring crew safety. The agency stated that the delay allows for more time to refine the HLS and address ongoing issues with the Axiom Space spacesuits.
SpaceX’s Starship and the Human Landing System
SpaceX’s Starship is crucial to the Artemis program as the HLS, responsible for transporting astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface and back. Development of Starship has encountered notable testing challenges, impacting the Artemis timeline.
Starship’s development has been marked by several high-profile test flights, some of which resulted in vehicle destruction. Despite these setbacks, SpaceX continues to iterate on the design and improve its reliability. NASA awarded SpaceX a $1.15 billion contract in April 2021 to develop the HLS, based on Starship. NASA’s contract announcement outlines the key requirements for the HLS, including the ability to carry two astronauts to the lunar surface and return them safely to orbit.
as of January 19, 2026, Starship is undergoing further testing and refinement, with NASA closely monitoring its progress.The agency is working with SpaceX to mitigate risks and ensure the HLS is ready for the artemis III mission. The latest update from SpaceX, on January 15, 2026, indicated a planned orbital flight test in February. SpaceX’s Starship page provides ongoing updates on the vehicle’s development.
Challenges with Axiom Space’s Spacesuits
The development of new spacesuits for lunar surface exploration by Axiom Space is also contributing to the Artemis delays. These suits are designed to provide astronauts with greater mobility and functionality than previous generations of spacesuits.
Axiom Space was awarded a $140 million contract in June 2023 to develop the next-generation spacesuits. NASA’s announcement of the contract details the specifications for the suits, including requirements for dust mitigation, thermal protection, and life support systems. However, development has proven more complex than anticipated.
According to a report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on December 15, 2025, the spacesuit development is facing technical challenges and schedule delays. The GAO report highlights concerns about the suit’s mobility and the ability to meet NASA’s safety requirements. NASA is working closely with Axiom Space to address these issues and ensure the suits are ready for artemis III.
Revised Artemis Mission schedule
the Artemis program now follows a revised schedule, reflecting the delays in HLS and spacesuit development.
- Artemis I: Completed November 2022 – Uncrewed test flight of SLS and Orion.
- Artemis II: Targeted for November 2025 – Crewed flyby of the Moon.
- Artemis III: Targeted for september 2026 – Crewed landing near the lunar south pole.
- Artemis IV: Rescheduled to 2028 – Further lunar surface exploration.
These dates are subject to change based on the progress of ongoing development and testing.NASA continues to emphasize its commitment to a safe and sustainable return to the Moon. NASA’s Artemis program page provides the most up-to-date facts on
