The science of piano playing cats…?

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An Animal Planet segment ponders how and why this cat seems to be playing the piano.  Animal behaviorist and UC Davis alumna Dr. Sophia Lin says that cats can hear and understand different tones played on instruments such as the piano.  Additionally these animals are born imitators and so this cat could very well be trying to communicate to her piano teacher owner.

Sophia researches animal behavior as a way for humans to better understand their pets:

“Pets don’t understand spoken language, they rely on body language plus desired or undesired consequences in order to learn. This means that humans must be aware of their movement and actions because every move they make while interacting with the pet influences the animal’s behavior and perception of them.”

Read more on her blog

Tribes: I Know I Am, But What Are You?

TAL

This American Life had a great segment over the weekend about tribes and what they mean in modern day times:

Until almost 10,000 years ago, everyone literally lived in a tribe of a few hundred or a small band of a few dozen people. UCLA scientist Jared Diamond talks about how back then, you could go your whole life without ever encountering a stranger. He recently came out with a book called The World Until Yesterday.

Listen to the full episode