Why do kittens, bunnies, puppies, and their ilk seem so much cuter than human babies? This is something I've always wondered, and I am surprised that it doesn't seem to have been asked here. I've seen some idle speculations about the reasons in various places around the Web, but nothing resembling evidence. Is there any actual research related to this topic? Or is the question based on flawed assumptions somehow? [more inside]
posted by fermion on Feb 7, 2013 - 46 answers

Trying to locate a study in which they gave a chimpanzee (or other ape?) all the hard drugs he wanted (though it may have just been cocaine and/or heroin?) and found that with sufficient care, the subject actually lived a perfectly healthy and long life. [more inside]
posted by imagineerit on Jun 18, 2012 - 4 answers

Garden snail behavior-- how far and fast do they travel (etc.)? [more inside]
posted by pracowity on May 13, 2010 - 1 answer

Animal research... I have tried to have an intelligent convo with my boyfriend about animal research. He's all for it and me, not so much. I understand open-heart surgery and and drug testing but I dont really like the behavioral stuff.... [more inside]
posted by beccaj on Sep 1, 2006 - 8 answers

What experiments have been carried out where animals perform better than us at particular cognitive tasks? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on May 9, 2006 - 13 answers