Animals

May 10, 2025

New Studies Paw at the Prevailing Theory of How Cats Became Domesticated

Calling a house cat domesticated could be seen as a stretch. With their famously aloof demeanor and unpredictable moods, cats have never quite surrendered their wild streak. Our feline friends are notoriously temperamental and may tolerate us, at best, but they are nonetheless important figures in the homes of many families around the world. Cats are equally mysterious and charming in their own right.

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May 6, 2025

Study Says Dogs Can Smell Your Stress and It Affects How They Behave

Dogs perceive the world through their sense of smell—and this includes the way they gauge their human's emotions. Just like us humans can tell a person is stressed by seeing their facial expressions and body language, pups can determine it by the levels of cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” you exude. Interestingly, a study has found that they have a more pessimistic outlook if they can tell you're feeling stressed.

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April 30, 2025

New Study Suggests Chimpanzees May Enjoy “Social Drinking” Just Like Humans

Chimpanzees are our closest genetic relatives among the great apes, sharing many characteristics with us, such as the use of tools, social structures, and even the capacity for empathy. However, a new report by researchers from the University of Exeter reveals another, surprising similarity between us and chimpanzees—our shared talent for consuming alcohol.

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April 24, 2025

Watch an Octopus Hitch a Ride on a Shark in “Sharktopus” Footage Captured by Scientists

While aboard a University of Auckland vessel off the coast of Kawau Island, in New Zealand, Rochelle Constantine noticed something unusual clutching onto a mako shark’s head. There were several things the orange clump could’ve been; a mass, the marine ecologist thought, or perhaps a deep gash. Maybe it was even a buoy, or a tangled fishing net? She didn’t consider the possibility of it being a Maori octopus hitching a ride.

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My Modern Met

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