A new study has found that dogs can recognise on average 89 words or phrases. The project involved asking 165 owners to choose from a list of words, identifying those that their dog consistently understood. The worst performing knew 15, while the best could distinguish 215. Researchers found that among the terms often understood were “treat”, “breakfast”, “dinner”, “garbage”, “poo” and things to chase, such as a “ball” or “squirrel”.
Fish blow raspberries when they’re happy
Happy fish sound as if they are blowing raspberries, a study has found. Scientists found that whoops, croaks, growls, raspberries and foghorn-like noises from fish can help to demonstrate that efforts to restore a reef are going well, said The Times. Professor Steve Simpson, from the University of Bristol, said: “Some of the sounds we recorded are bizarre.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Pilot ‘spots UFOs above Pacific Ocean’
A pilot claimed that he saw a fleet of UFOs over the Pacific Ocean and that the suspected alien aircraft took the form of “weird” rotating lights moving across the sky. In a video, shot at 39,000 feet, the pilot can be heard saying: “I do not know what that is. That is some weird s**t. That is something flying.”
-
Scorching hot sauces that pack a punchThe Week Recommends The best sauces to tingle your lips and add a fiery kick to your food
-
Syria’s strange post-Assad electionThe Explainer Sunday’s limited vote ‘suited the phase Syria is undergoing’, says interim president
-
Why did the China spying case collapse?Today’s Big Question Unwillingness to call China an ‘enemy’ apparently scuppered espionage trial
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Delhi's dogs earn Supreme Court reprieveIN THE SPOTLIGHT After an outcry from the public and animal rights activists, India's Supreme Court walks back a controversial plan to round the city's stray dog population into shelters
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
