Why it matters: Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Project CETI have discovered that sperm whales produce sounds resembling vowels, suggesting a more complex communication system than previously thought. Traditionally, sperm whale communication was thought to be limited to codas — click sequences akin to Morse code. Using machine learning, the team analyzed recordings of whales off Dominica, finding structured patterns similar to those found in human language. However, some scientists are skeptical about interpreting these sounds as intentional communication.

But wait, there's more: I can't help but think of the Douglas Adams novel, "So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish," which posits that dolphins are the smartest creatures on Earth because they play all day while humans study them. But linguists are excited about the discovery. "A whole new set of patterns have appeared," said researcher Gasper Begus. "Now, it's one of the most complex non-human communication systems we have observed."

Why it matters: No one has decoded the exact messages from the whales yet. Maybe they're asking for some privacy to exchange a kiss. Kissing first appeared over 21 million years ago in the common ancestor of humans and great apes, new research has found. The study found that kissing is not unique to humans and is observed in a wide variety of species, including wolves, prairie dogs, polar bears, albatrosses, and especially among primates.

Why it matters: The next time your Amazon delivery is running late, it might be due to wildlife. An Amazon delivery driver in England opened up the hood of his truck to find a fox curled up inside after noticing the check engine light. "Being trapped in a hot engine could have ended very differently for this young fox -- but thankfully her injuries were minor and she's expected to make a full recovery," said Herchy Boal, an animal inspector.

Why it matters: Some starlings appear to be "Star Wars" fans -- or at least fans of character R2-D2 and his distinctive sounds. Starlings, a type of songbird, outperform parrots and budgies due to their ability to produce multiphonic noises, thanks to independent control of both sides of their syrinx. The study, which used online samples, highlights the physical differences in the vocal organs of birds and suggests further research with more controlled trials.

Remember last week's article in WYWW about the disappearing penny? Andy Pickard from Qualicum Beach, B.C., shared Canada's experience. His email is below.

"How many Americans realize just how handicapped they are? The US is not THE UNIVERSE. There's a whole world outside the borders of the US. With respect to cents, or pennies -- Canada eliminated the penny some years ago. Even us Luddites who pay cash (for small items) have lived through the change. Canadian cash registers are now programmed to round up or down on the final bill -- following standard rounding practices. here is one exception - charges on credit (and debit?) cards still use the actual final penny value -- not rounded.

The real question is -- is the current price of copper in a penny more or less than one cent? And where can you sell your hoard of pennies for their 'copper value'?"

Why it matters: An analysis of 10,000 marine animal autopsies found that seabirds have a 90% chance of dying after ingesting only 23 pieces of plastic, marine mammals reach a similar risk at 29 pieces and sea turtles at 405 pieces. The type of plastic is also a significant factor, with rubber being most dangerous for seabirds, soft plastics and fishing debris for marine mammals, and both hard and soft plastics for sea turtles. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, did not assess risks from entanglement or exposure to chemicals in plastics.

Why it matters: Researchers in British Columbia have documented a wolf using a crab trap as a tool to access bait, a behavior that could indicate previously unrecognized intelligence in wolves. The incident was captured on camera after people noticed bait was being stolen from traps set to control invasive European green crabs. The wolf dragged a fully submerged trap to shore and manipulated it to access the bait.

Why it matters: Leave it to the French to make nursing homes more festive. The Roseliere nursing home in Kunheim, France, includes a bar for residents and visitors. "The main objective is to bring in as many people as possible, from outside to inside, so that life can simply continue for our residents," said Robert Kohler, director of the nursing home who obtained a liquor license for the establishment several months ago.