Animals

November 4, 2020

This Hi-Tech Bird Feeder Lets Clever Magpies Exchange Bottle Caps for Food

You might not realize it, but birds are very intelligent creatures. Crows, for instance, can recognize human faces. Magpies, a relative of crows, are also known for their smarts as well as their affinity for picking up objects and finagling with things like locks. Artificial intelligence researcher Hans Forsberg noticed these clever creatures around his neighborhood and was able to train them to trade in pieces of litter for food.

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October 30, 2020

Sleepy Shiba Inu Naps Inside Snack-Inspired Pet Beds

From a fruit tart-shaped cat bed to a Game of Thrones-inspired pet throne, there are plenty of creative and funny pet beds available out there. But just when we thought we’d seen it all in weird and wonderful designs, we came across the sleeping setups of an adorable Shiba Inu named Yuki-Chan. The 3-year-old Japan-based pup sleeps inside plush potato chip bags and ramen pots. Yuki-Chan’s owner (known as @n0qTVdKQKf4r0Qt on Twitter)

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October 25, 2020

Meet the Frogmouth, an Owl-Like Bird With a Distinctly Expressive Face

Flitting around the Indian subcontinent all the way to Australia are a group of nocturnal birds that are as cute as they are captivating. Known as frogmouths, they have a wide, gaping beak—giving these birds their name—and a furrowed brow lending them a serious, yet silly, look. Frogmouths may appear similar to owls, but they are actually more closely related to nightjars. They belong to the Podargidae family, which contains 15 different species.

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October 20, 2020

Gentle Dogs Help Raise Rescue Kitten Who Now Thinks He’s One of the Pack

Cats and dogs are notorious for fighting with each other, but there’s one particular fluffy family that's proven to be an exception to the norm. Meet Azmael the rescue cat and his siblings, Nimue the Altdeutscher Schäferhund and Liam the White Swiss Shepherd. The adorable trio are best friends—so much so that Azmael behaves just like his canine companions.

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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.