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SCIENCE IN THE NEWS

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SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
By Jerilyn Watson, Lawan Davis, ...

Broadcast: Tuesday, March 22, 2005

The Dutch scientists observe how birds called great tits act among each other. They compare the personalities1 of adult birds with those of baby birds. They also study the genetic2 material of the birds. This material decides how the birds will develop. It controls what they will be like. The scientists also are attempting to learn how personalities affect the survival of birds.

VOICE TWO:

Samuel Gosling teaches at the University of Texas. He says the Dutch scientists are producing the most detailed3 work ever done on the subject.

During the nineteen-nineties, Mister Gosling studied thirty-four hyenas4 at the University of California in Berkeley. The hyenas had four caretakers. Each caretaker, or keeper, answered questions about every animal. The keepers agreed about the personalities of the animals at about the same rate that people would describe other people.

The keepers described some things about the hyenas that seemed similar to humans. For example, they described some of the animals as agreeable. Others, they said, reacted with worry or even fearfulness to pressure.

VOICE ONE:

 
 
Photo courtesy Art Today

More recently, Mister Gosling studied dogs. He recently presented his findings to a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement5 of Science in Washington, D.C. He noted6 that different kinds of dogs have different personalities. But he said there also are huge personality differences within each group, or breed.

Mister Gosling developed a test for people to learn about a dog's personality. He tested seventy-eight dogs. In his study, Mister Gosling asked dog owners to rate their animal on four kinds of personality. Then he asked strangers to describe the animals. The strangers rated the dogs on their levels of energy and ability to act loving, compared with aggressiveness. They also rated the dogs on nervousness compared with calmness and intelligence compared with stupidity.

VOICE TWO:

 
 
The owners and strangers generally agreed about the personality of each dog. Mister Gosling says this shows there are such things as dog personalities. He also said his studies suggest that people should own dogs with similar personalities.

His findings provide good news for owners of dogs of unpopular breeds. For example, pit bulls have been known to attack people. Many people think of this breed as too aggressive. But Mister Gosling's work shows that each animal may have its own personality.

VOICE ONE:

Mister Gosling says one of his new projects also will involve dogs. This time, the subjects will be dogs that search for explosives. It costs a lot of time and money to train such animals. However, some dogs cannot learn this skill. If more were known about an animal's personality, choosing dogs for the training could be improved.

Samuel Gosling says the main importance of studying animal personalities is that it permits learning not possible with human beings. He said the shorter lives of animals mean that many more lives and personalities can be studied in a shorter time.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

You are listening to SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English. I'm Bob Doughty7 with Sarah Long in Washington.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

We recently received a message from a listener in China. Wang Feng would like to know if dogs dream when they sleep.

Studies show that dogs and human beings have similar brain activity when they sleep. Researchers use a test called an electroencephalogram to study such activity.

When dogs first go to sleep, they enter a period of light sleep. This is when they can be easily awakened8. In light sleep, dogs lie still and their breathing is normal.

When dogs enter deep sleep, they have difficulty waking up. Brain wave activity greatly increases. Dogs begin unusual breathing. Rapid eye movement also begins. During rapid eye movement, the eyes are moving quickly, forward and backward. Then dogs may begin to make sounds. Their bodies may make uncontrolled movements. Their legs move as if they are running. It may seem as if the dog is having a bad dream. It is best not to wake a sleeping dog. Like people, dogs need continuous sleep for healthy mental activity.

VOICE ONE:

Researchers say dogs have several dreams each night. The amount of time spent sleeping is different with each animal. Most dogs sleep thirteen to fourteen hours a day.

Researchers also say small dogs dream more than large ones. The number of dreams each animal has also is linked to many things, including age. Young dogs dream more than adult dogs.

Many people wonder what their dogs are dreaming about. Researchers believe it is likely that dogs dream in a way similar to humans. They believe dogs dream of things that are pleasing to them, but unreal. They also say dogs dream of things that happen in everyday life, such as chasing things, playing and eating.

If you are wondering, cats dream, too.

Thanks to Wang Feng for that question. We would like to hear from you. Write us at Special English, Voice of America, Washington, D.C. two zero two three seven, U.S.A. Or send electronic mail messages to [email protected].

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

This program was written by Lawan Davis, Ed Stautberg and Jerilyn Watson. Cynthia Kirk was our producer. I'm Bob Doughty.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Sarah Long. Join us again next week for SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English.

(MUSIC)


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1 personalities ylOzsg     
n. 诽谤,(对某人容貌、性格等所进行的)人身攻击; 人身攻击;人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
  • Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。
2 genetic PgIxp     
adj.遗传的,遗传学的
参考例句:
  • It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
  • Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。
3 detailed xuNzms     
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的
参考例句:
  • He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
  • A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
4 hyenas f7b0c2304b9433d9f69980a715aa6dbe     
n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • These animals were the prey of hyenas. 这些动物是鬣狗的猎物。 来自辞典例句
  • We detest with horror the duplicity and villainy of the murderous hyenas of Bukharinite wreckers. 我们非常憎恨布哈林那帮两面三刀、杀人破坏,干尽坏事的豺狼。 来自辞典例句
5 advancement tzgziL     
n.前进,促进,提升
参考例句:
  • His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
  • The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。
6 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
7 doughty Jk5zg     
adj.勇猛的,坚强的
参考例句:
  • Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质:脾气倔强,性格刚强。
  • The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。
8 awakened de71059d0b3cd8a1de21151c9166f9f0     
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
参考例句:
  • She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
  • The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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