The idea of being able to speak to creatures in their own distinct language was a thrilling prospect. And then there were veterinarians like Dr. James Herriot and his treasury of tales that showed he truly understood the nature of animals.
Now, while working from home and spending more time with our pets, perhaps we’ve reached a form of understanding that crosses the linguistic barrier.
There are times when you just know your pet is trying to say something — like when my cat wants to eat something different or listen to the dulcet tones of a British period drama (she prefers “Downton Abbey”).
Each year brings more scientific revelations supporting these similarities, and the start of 2022 is no exception.
Fantastic creatures
Imagine lying down with headphones on, the words of “The Little Prince” floating through your ears. Then, the words are repeated in an unfamiliar language, followed by nonsense words. You’re in an MRI machine, and inside your head, your brain is lighting up in response to the familiar and the unfamiliar. Oh, and you’re a dog.
When neuroethologist Laura Cuaya moved from Mexico to Hungary with her border collie, Kun-kun, she was driven to discover whether he could detect the language difference.
That makes dogs the first nonprimates shown to possess spontaneous language ability. So, if you’re streaming subtitled shows from other countries, Fido can tell.
Dig this
Australia is full of arid deserts now, but millions of years ago it supported thriving rainforests — and they were filled with myriad creatures.
A newly discovered site in New South Wales acts like a time capsule for a period between 11 million and 16 million years ago, which can help researchers fill gaps about “Australia’s origin story.”
Trailblazers
Pulling something out of thin air may seem like a magic trick, but researchers have been able to successfully collect and analyze the airborne DNA of animals.
This groundbreaking technique could change the way that endangered species and natural ecosystems are studied and protected.
Two independent groups of researchers tested out different ways of collecting eDNA, or the genetic material released by waste, bodily fluids, and skin or fur, at two different zoos.
Force of nature
Now, researchers are pointing to an extreme new example: a drastic surge in wild weather at the North Pole.
A network of sensors detected a significant increase in lightning in the far northern Arctic — and in 2021 alone, the North Pole experienced twice as many strikes as the previous nine years combined.
Across the universe
In a first, astronomers have witnessed the death throes of a colossal star and its eventual demise in the form of a supernova — all in real time.
The red supergiant, located 120 million light-years away from Earth, was 10 times more massive than the sun before it exploded.
Giants like this one were expected to be fairly quiet before reaching an explosive end. But researchers using ground-based telescopes saw the violent expulsion of bright gas from this star in the summer of 2020.
Curiosities
Delve a little deeper: