In what sounds like a plot from an animated feature film, scientists have discovered that rats emit noises that bear many similarities to what we call songs.
A team of Japanese researchers found that when a male rodent comes across a potential mate, he bursts into a complex series of loud chirps and whistles that sound remarkably like birdsong.
Although the ultrasonic calls are too high-pitched for the human ear to pick up, the researchers said, the “love songs” allow females to weigh up the most suitable father for their offspring, the Daily Mail reported. However, the researchers were not yet able to find out whether the animals are born with their songs fully formed in their heads, or they learn them from their parents and peers as we do.
In 2005, US researchers discovered that these noises are made up of repeated phrases just like the songs of birds and whales.
Since then, researchers have been trying to find out whether the songs are programmed into the brains of mice from birth, or whether they learn them from their mothers.
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Rob Lowe to replace Sheen on sitcom
London: Rob Lowe is being considered to replace Charlie Sheen on the hit sitcom Two And A Half Men after the actor was fired from the job following his public spat with the show’s creator.
Sheen was officially fired from the sitcom on Monday following his 10-day media blitz, during which he blasted show producers and show creator/writer Chuck Lorre for cancelling the remaining episodes of the current eighth season of the programme, Contactmusic reported.
And Lorre is already working on a possible replacement.
The names that are doing the rounds are of TV veteran John Stamos and Lowe, who is currently starring in US sitcom Parks & Recreation.
Warner Bros have reportedly been in touch with Lowe’s agent. —PTI