Of all the adjectives that come to mind when you think about scientific research, “cute” probably isn’t at the top of the list. But scientists make plenty of “aw”-inspiring findings every year, from dog facial expressions to the invention of “frog saunas.” Here, Scientific American rounds up a few of our favorite discoveries from this year that are downright adorable.
Singing in Their Sleep
Some people talk in their sleep. Dogs “sleep bark.” Certain birds, it turns out, practice their singing while they snooze. Scientists had previously noticed that some birds seemed to make movements that resembled lip-syncing (beak-syncing?) while they dozed. To see what was a going on, researchers implanted electrodes in the brains of Zebra Finches and Great Kiskadees. The finches, which tend to learn new sounds and songs, seemed to silently rehearse their tunes, whereas the Great Kiskadees, with their more limited repertoire, did not.
s touching heads as a way to communicate with one another.
David Merron Photography/Getty Images
Mighty Morphin’ Melons
Belugas are pretty adorable on their own, but it gets even better: These whales have a mass of fat tissue on their forehead called a “melon” (yes, that’s the technical term), which they move around to communicate with one another. Researchers monitored belugas at Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium and found that they morph their melon in distinctive ways, such as shaking it or pushing it forward or back. What the whales are communicating isn’t yet clear, but certain morphs could be used to flirt or to signal aggression.
Bear Hugs?
“If not friend, why friend-shaped?” So goes the Internet meme that wants to know why bears looks so cuddly when they are definitely not an animal you’d be advised to hug.
Scientific American editors spoke with experts about why we have an affinity for bears. Some of it likely comes from their role in our cultures (in folklore, for example), as well as humans’ and bears’ similar preferences for where to live and what to eat. The animals’ particular physical features might draw us in, too. Bears have a big nose you kind of want to “boop,” like you would a dog’s, as well as fluffy fur and rounded ears. And their chubby face may trigger our nurturing reflexes by reminding us of our own babies.
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Close-up of playful European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) cubs in the woods of Finland. Dgwildlife/Getty Images
This is such a fun read! These discoveries are truly heartwarming.
This article reminds us that science can be both fascinating and endearing. It’s wonderful to see researchers uncovering the playful and emotional sides of animals.
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James' World 2 
Dec 14, 2024 @ 11:26:03
This is such a fun read! These discoveries are truly heartwarming.
This article reminds us that science can be both fascinating and endearing. It’s wonderful to see researchers uncovering the playful and emotional sides of animals.
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Dec 14, 2024 @ 14:22:57
I concur, thank you for your comment!
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