birds Harvard study shows that Harvard kids are dumber than a grey parrot Thom Dunn

australia Michael Bublé performed a private concert of Christmas songs for a trio of gorillas Thom Dunn

evolution Some wasps have evolved to recognize and remember faces Thom Dunn

art Computer finds faces in grains of sand David Pescovitz

Science Rats trained to drive tiny cars in pursuit of Froot Loops David Pescovitz

artificial intelligence Why didn't OpenAI release the "Unicorn" version of its AI storytelling software? Mark Frauenfelder

mistakes Man jailed after boasting of pelican abuse Rob Beschizza

Internet of questionably useful things Smart pet food bowl closes when pets try to overeat Mark Frauenfelder

dogs Cat lover sets out to prove dogs not special Jason Weisberger

Kids Watch why bees can understand zero, but young children can't Andrea James

Science Wildbook: facial recognition for critters in the wild Cory Doctorow

Gadgets Boing Boing Gift Guide 2017 Gift Guide

happy mutants It’s about Time: Reading Steampunk’s Rise and Roots Rachel A. Bowser and Brian Croxall

fiction The Man Who Sold The Moon Cory Doctorow

drug policy Why animals eat psychoactive plants Johann Hari

Are you smarter than a rat? Dan Hurley

yanss Monkeys, money, and the primate origins of human irrationality David McRaney