Animals

January 17, 2022

Study Finds That 65 Different Species of Animals Laugh To Express Happiness

Laughing rats and dogs may seem more like something out of a Disney animated film than of real life, but they do exist. While neither species laughs like a human giggles, each has their own joyful noise. A recent UCLA study published in Bioacoustics discovered that 65 animal species have their own form of “laughter.” Among the species who make such playful vocalizations are seals, dogs, rats, and mongooses.

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January 4, 2022

White-Necked Raven Can Accurately Mimic Human Voices

Ravens are extremely intelligent birds. Members of the Corvus genus, their behavior has long fascinated birders, scientists, and even authors such as Edgar Allen Poe. Studies have demonstrated that at four months old the sleek black birds have intelligence equivalent to that of adult apes. They can be trained to perform a number of clever tricks—including matching colors, retrieving objects, and even mimicking human voices with shocking realism.

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December 18, 2021

Red Fox Repeatedly Visits Banjo Player for a Free Concert

Banjo picker Andy Thorn—a talented musician from Boulder, Colorado—is best known for his work with jamgrass band, Leftover Salmon. However, lately he has been gaining plenty of recognition as the musical Doctor Dolittle. Thorn uploaded a video to YouTube where he stood in front of a scenic mountain setting at his home in Colorado, practicing his banjo. As he plucked away, he had an interesting encounter with a red fox.

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December 10, 2021

Meet Midas the Four-Eared Kitten Who Is Winning Countless Hearts on the Internet

You’ve likely heard the term “four eyes” for people who wear glasses, but “four ears?” That’s a new one, and it happens to perfectly describe Midas, a kitten who really has multiple ears. Midas lives in Ankara, Turkey, with her human Canis Dosemeci, who has been chronicling the kitty’s young life on Instagram. With her unusual features, Midas is quickly becoming an internet star.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.