December 10, 2024
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The 6 Cutest Things We Learned About Animals in 2024
From a beluga whale’s noggin that transforms to a bird that practices sleep talking, science has made a lot of adorable discoveries this year
Close-up of a playful European brown bear (Ursus Arctos Arctos) Children of the Finnish Forest.
Of all the adjectives that come to mind when you think of scientific research, “cute” probably isn’t at the top of the list. But scientists are publishing a slew of “amazing” discoveries every year, from the facial expressions of dogs to the invention of the “frog sauna.” here, scientific american We’ve rounded up some of our favorite discoveries from this year that are truly adorable.
sing while sleeping
Some people talk in their sleep. Dogs “sleep bark”. It turns out that some types of birds practice their calls while dozing. Scientists have previously noticed that some birds appear to perform movements similar to lip-syncing (beak-syncing?) while dozing. To see what was going on, researchers implanted electrodes into the brains of zebra finches and giant skaddies. Finches, which tend to learn new sounds and songs, seemed to silently rehearse their songs, but this was not the case for giant kiskadees, which had a limited repertoire.
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Two belugas touching their heads to communicate.
David Mellon Photography/Getty Images
Mighty Morphin Melon
Beluga whales are very adorable on their own, but they’re even more fascinating. These whales have chunks of fatty tissue on their foreheads called “melons” (yes, that’s a technical term) that move around to communicate with each other. Researchers observed beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and discovered that they deform melons in distinctive ways, including shaking them and pushing them back and forth. It’s not yet clear what whales communicate, but certain forms may be used to signal flirtation or aggression.
Bear hug?
“If they’re not friends, then why are they shaped like friends?” Ditto the internet meme that asks why bears look so cute when they’re definitely not cuddly animals.
scientific american Our editors spoke to experts about why we feel an affinity for bears. Some of that probably comes from humans and bears’ similar preferences for where they live and what they eat, as well as the role of bears in our culture (for example, in folklore). . We may also be attracted to the unique physical characteristics of animals. Bears have big noses, fluffy fur, and round ears that make you want to “boo” like a dog. And their chubby faces can remind us of our own babies and trigger our nurturing reflexes.
“Please understand that I’m kind of a die-hard bear lover. (But) personally, I don’t think bears are all that cute. I don’t think they look like friends.” “When you see a bear, you see a predator,” said Ray Wynn Grant, an ecologist and affiliated researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who has been studying bears for 14 years. siam. Coo the baby bear from a distance, and if you need some cuddles, grab a nearby teddy bear.
A pack of wild dogs (Lycaon Pictus) approach with caution.
Paul Souders/Getty Images
we dare you to resist that face
Every dog ​​owner is familiar with this expression. It’s a pleading look from a pet dog with its “puppy eyes.” Contrary to what previous studies have suggested, it turns out that domesticated dogs aren’t the only ones with eyebrow lines that give them this forlorn look. A new study this year found they also exist in African wild dogs. “It opens the door to thinking about where dogs come from and what dogs are,” Anne Burrows, a biological anthropologist at Duquesne University, said in an interview. nature.
perfect bird manners
We’ve all been in a situation where we arrive at the door at the same time as someone else. Usually one person says or gestures “after you” and allows the other to go ahead. Well, Japanese breasts have been revealed (minor pulse) Please do this too. When they spot a mate outside the hive, one will flap its wings toward the other in an apparent “chasing you” gesture. This behavior indicates that non-human animals may use symbolic gestures rather than gestures with literal meaning, such as pointing. And it’s delightfully polite.
Green and golden bell frog inside the frog sauna greenhouse shelter.
cutest sauna ever
Frogs and other amphibians have been in dire straits in recent decades, with their populations decimated by a deadly fungal infection called chytridiomycosis. Scientists noted that the disease, also known as chytridiomycosis, appears to be more deadly in cold, wet climates than in warm, dry climates. Thus, the fascinating idea of ​​the frog sauna was born. A group of researchers built a black brick structure with holes the size of frogs that absorb heat. And sure enough, the frogs became better at fighting off fungi. That’s definitely a reason to jump for joy.
